Photo Credit: Rod PradoHealth
Memorial Hermann The Woodlands celebrates One Year Anniversary of Facility Dog Program
On Friday, August 22, Memorial Hermann The Woodlands Medical Center celebrated the one year anniversary of the hospital’s Facility Dog Program. The “paw-ty” also celebrated Facility Dog Kinson’s 3rd Birthday with a fun event including photo opportunities with staff and patients plus snacks, treats and refreshments. “Kinson” plushies, stuffed animal replicas of the birthday boy, were available for purchase to benefit the hospital’s Partners in Caring program that helps Memorial Hermann employees in need.
View special moments from the celebration on the Hello Woodlands Facebook and Instagram pages.
The Facility Dog Program is in collaboration with Canine Companions and made possible through the generous support of donors to The Memorial Hermann Foundation. Additionally, Memorial Hermann The Woodlands has a Volunteer Pet Therapy Program with trained dogs and their handlers from Pets with a Mission in Montgomery County. They have a broader scope of service compared to a facility dog and are available to all.
What is the role of a Memorial Hermann Facility Dog?
- Allow opportunities for staff to feel supported
- Motivate patients to meet their goals
- Normalize a hospital stay
- Distract during processes or episodes of pain
- Facilitate and/or enhance patient interactions
- Offer a sense of unconditional love and acceptance
- Be a safe and nonjudgmental visitor
- Celebrate reaching medical goals
- Be present during difficult conversations
- Create calm and soothing sensory stimulation
Kinson is Memorial Hermann The Woodlands Medical Center’s first Facility Dog and has been expertly trained to work with his handler, Ashley Halland (Facility Dog Program Coordinator), in the hospital. Ashley, a clinical social worker by training, brings Kinson to work and goes home with him at the end of each work day. Ashley has experience working with dogs in different settings to encourage positive results. Together, Ashley and Kinson work directly with patients to meet individual goals, such as helping patients in trauma, TIRR medical rehabilitation, and neurorehabilitation.
As a Labrador/Golden Retriever cross breed, Kinson was carefully bred and expertly trained by Canine Companions specifically for service work. His favorite commands are Tug, Push, and Lap, but Kinson responds to over 40 commands to help support and motivate our patients to meet their hospital goals. Kinson was born on August 22, 2022 and celebrated his 3rd birthday on the date of the celebration on Friday. Happy Birthday, Kinson!
Source: Memorial Hermann
