The healing power of pets: At Baylor Scott & White Health, the therapist is in (and furry)

Nearly 40 years ago, in a Baylor Scott & White Health hospital room, an incredible thing happened: With the permission of a doctor, a dog was brought in by an occupational therapist to visit a comatose patient, and the patient responded to the dog’s presence. That single moment led to the creation of the hospital system’s animal assisted therapy program, where dogs make rounds just like doctors do — but they are practitioners of joy, not medicine.
Surprisingly, though, most of the dogs are pets, not service animals. You don’t have to be a certified trainer, and your dog doesn’t need to know fancy tricks. Rather, key qualifications for the dogs include confidence, calmness, friendliness, basic obedience skills and willing owners.
Linda Marler, who has led the program for the past 35 years, says that currently, 67 dogs and 65 handlers take part in the program. Volunteer duties range from greeting patients at nurses’ stations and parading through medical facilities dressed in seasonal costumes to visiting patient rooms upon request. “There’s nothing more rewarding than to walk into the hospital and see how much joy your dog brings to someone,” Marler says. At the hospital in downtown Dallas, doctors may order visits from the animal assisted therapy team as part of a patient’s care. In rehabilitation programs, dogs and handlers may also assist with memory work or physical tasks, alongside a therapist.
Some volunteers are regular pet owners, while others may have professional-caliber experience — training their dog for show events, for example. “Anyone 18 or over who has the love of sharing their animal with others” is a possible candidate, Marler says. The pets are varied, too, in breed, age and skills. (The health system does have a breed restriction: Pit bulls and pit bull mixes are not permitted.)
Get the latest breaking news from North Texas and beyond.
Or with:
By signing up you agree to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy
It does take a little more than a friendly disposition to be accepted into the program, though. Dogs must be at least a year old and not more than 9 years old to take the required temperament test. During the test, dogs are tasked with certain basic commands while a variety of diversions are presented. Marler requires all dogs to complete at least one six-to-eight-week obedience class prior to the test. “Most of the time, one obedience class doesn’t cut it,” Marler shares. “The dog needs to be able to sit and stay and ‘down’ … with distractions going on around him.”
Dogs that are obedient at home or in familiar environments will need to practice their skills in public. This is because part of a volunteering session may include a ride in an elevator, a wheelchair rolling past or loud medical equipment in a patient’s room — things a dog should be desensitized to prior to becoming a volunteer. “They need to be able to follow directions even in a situation that’s not the normal situation,” Marler notes.
After a dog passes the temperament test, the handler goes through the health system’s typical volunteer process. Approved handler and dog teams must be available to volunteer at least once every 90 days. Most volunteering opportunities occur on weekdays during daytime hours, but there are a handful of coveted spots on evenings and weekends. Volunteers range in their frequency of visits; some come every week and others once a quarter. In preparation for their visit, dogs must be bathed 24–48 hours ahead of time.
In addition to the positive impact on patients, the program offers benefits to volunteers. “It does strengthen the bond between you and your dog,” Marler says.
For more information on Baylor Scott & White Health’s animal assisted therapy program, visit bswhealth.com/get-involved/become-a-volunteer.
Additional pet therapy opportunities in North Texas include:
Children’s Health
In operation since 1999, the volunteer pet therapy program at Children’s Health serves the Dallas and Plano campuses. Pets must be certified through one of two programs: Paws Across Texas or Pet Partners. childrens.com/get-involved/volunteer/volunteer-dogs
Heart of Texas Therapy Dogs
Volunteers with the Heart of Texas Therapy Dogs program visit a variety of hospitals, senior living facilities, health care and rehabilitation centers, community organizations and events throughout D-FW. Volunteers must be certified by the Alliance of Therapy Dogs. heartoftexastd.org