Being hospitalized can be a stressful and emotional. But there is a program designed to bring smiles to patients at University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics.
She won't wake you up to give you a pill or take your blood pressure. But Mabel does provide a dose of medicine most patients find easy to swallow.
When someone comes to Nick Hornick's room, it's usually to check his vital signs. But this knock at the door brought a welcome surprise - a wagging tail and a new friend named Mabel.
Mabel is a 12-year-old pointer-dalmatian. She and her handler are one four teams who visit patients in the Furry Friends certified dog visitation program at UI Hospitals and Clinics. Mabel's visits do wonders for patients like Nathan.
"Well, just being able to pet the dog and talk with the owners about my pet and their pet and stuff like that...little bit of a taste of home, kind of," says Nathan.
Stephanie Jensen is awaiting a heart transplant. Seeing Mabel reminded Stephanie of her home in South Dakota, where she cares for many different kinds of pets.
"I like it... I don't get to see my puppies," she says.
"I think it just kind of creates a calm feeling, and again relieves the stress of the whole hospital situation. It makes you feel like a person again instead of a patient, and there's a big difference between the two," says Sue Tietz, UI recreational therapist.
"I think it can help with increased socialization, interaction, reduced stress. It's something they look forward to every week" says Kristi Nove, UI recreational therapist.
The Furry Friends visit about 20 patients each week. Teams must first go through training and certification by the Delta Society - an international group that trains service and therapy animals.
Both handlers and canines have to pass numerous health and safety screenings before seeing patients.
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