Three months ago, Advocate Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge decided
to try its animal therapy program with patients at the childrens hospital.

For 3-year-old Ashley Surin of Schaumburg, her new furry companions have
made a world of difference.
 
Hospital doctors and staff have known Ashley since December when she began
coming in for Leukemia treatment. When she first arrived, many remembered
Ashley as a patient who constantly cried as her mother tried to calm her
before each treatment session. Since being introduced to the dogs, Ashley
actually enjoys parts of her hospital visits.
 
Before the program, we would get to a certain point on the highway and
Ashley would start crying and ask ‘doctor? said Ashleys mother Maureen
Surin. I used to cry with her. Now when were on our way for treatment,
shell say one of the dogs names instead ‘Jersey or Sam or Chiquita.’
Ashley now relates the hospital to the dogs.”
 
The program has done so much good for Ashley that her mother moved the dates
of her treatment to make sure the dogs were always present.
 
Im thrilled with the program, it has made a night and day difference in
Ashley, Maureen Surin said.
 
One of Ashley’s favorite dogs is Jersey, an 11-year-old golden retriever.
His attentiveness to his handler and gentle temperament make him a perfect
match for a busy childrens hospital. Ten years ago, Jersey went through
intensive obedience training as a puppy to become part of the Canine Therapy
Corps animal therapy program.
 
Michael Sparrow, Jerseys handler, sits in the room with Ashley and her
mother as she plays with the dog. Sparrow has complete control over Jersey,
though the dog shows no signs of disobedience.
 
With all of the tubes and cords in a hospital, the dogs are trained to know
their feet cant leave the ground,” Sparrow said. They have to be able to
deal with the many sounds in a hospital, so he cant react to loud noises,
lots of people or other dogs. If an emergency occurred, the dog has to be
able to be calm and not bother the doctors.”
 
The dogs at Chicago-based Canine Therapy have taken and passed a very difficult pass-fail temperament and obedience test and been certified to work before they are allowed to go on visits as therapy dogs. They are not considered service dogs, but rather human companions who enjoy working. The program hosts dogs of all sizes, from terriers to 170-pound Irish wolfhounds.
 
Regardless of the size of the dog, Ashley harbors no fear and seems to enjoy
all of the animals who visit her before treatments.
 
Weve all seen the change in Ashley,” said Sue Shively, practice manager of
pediatric sub-specialties at Lutheran General. The first day the dogs came,
she pulled a book off the book cart, sat down next to the dog, and started
reading to him.”
 
Although the dogs have made hospital visits much easier for a number of
patients at Lutheran, the children havent been the only ones to benefit
from the dogs company.
 
Having the dogs around is great for the staff too,” Shively said. On the
days when the dogs are here, I have to ask them, ‘Are you working or are you
playing with the dogs?’ Its so relaxing for all of us.
 
Now that Ashleys visits will soon go from every 10 days to once a month,
Maureen Surin knows her daughter will miss the dogs.
 
We dont have a dog right now, but after Ashleys hospital visits are over,
Santa might have to bring one, she said.
 
For more information about Canine Therapy Corps, go to
www.caninetherapycorps.org.

For more photos of Ashley and Jersey, click here.
 

By Bridget Doyle, Triblocal.com Reporter