Research shows that a little time with a furry friend can be good for your health. And some kids going through a tough time are now seeing that impact in a new way. “This is only his third day of work, but he’s already doing such wonderful things here,” said Eva Mintz, a child life specialist at Mass General for Children. She’s talking about the hospital’s newest employee — a facility dog named Kayce.”His role is to work with me and really have a lot of therapeutic clinical interventions with our patients and families to bring obviously comfort and to bring joy,” said Mintz. The golden retriever/labrador mix is the hospital’s first facility dog. Mintz said she’s read a lot about the impact dogs like Kayce can have on patients — from stress relief to even easing pain — but seeing it firsthand is a whole new ballgame. “He really changes the whole dynamic of the room when we walk in,” said Mintz. “I’ve seen what a huge impact he has. He just goes up to patients, and if they’re upset or they’re anxious about being in the hospital, he has these big, giant puppy paws, and he puts his paws on them. And just like that, the physical comfort has been huge.”Kayce trained at Canine Assistance in Georgia, learning the skills he’ll need in a hospital setting. He flew to Boston with Mintz just last month. He lives with her family in Swampscott. Mintz said giving Kayce his “off” time is important, too.”He goes running down the beach and swimming in the ocean when he’s not here and is able to have that work-life balance of being a puppy,” she said. But when Kayce is wearing his vest, this pup is all business — and all heart. “When he walks into the unit, and he’s wagging his tail, and he goes to greet everybody and say ‘good morning,’ you can’t help but feel good,” said Mintz.Kayce’s time at MGH was made possible by a grant from Dunkin’ and the company’s “Dunkin’ Joy in Childhood Foundation.”
Research shows that a little time with a furry friend can be good for your health. And some kids going through a tough time are now seeing that impact in a new way.
“This is only his third day of work, but he’s already doing such wonderful things here,” said Eva Mintz, a child life specialist at Mass General for Children.
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She’s talking about the hospital’s newest employee — a facility dog named Kayce.
“His role is to work with me and really have a lot of therapeutic clinical interventions with our patients and families to bring obviously comfort and to bring joy,” said Mintz.
The golden retriever/labrador mix is the hospital’s first facility dog. Mintz said she’s read a lot about the impact dogs like Kayce can have on patients — from stress relief to even easing pain — but seeing it firsthand is a whole new ballgame.
“He really changes the whole dynamic of the room when we walk in,” said Mintz. “I’ve seen what a huge impact he has. He just goes up to patients, and if they’re upset or they’re anxious about being in the hospital, he has these big, giant puppy paws, and he puts his paws on them. And just like that, the physical comfort has been huge.”
Kayce trained at Canine Assistance in Georgia, learning the skills he’ll need in a hospital setting. He flew to Boston with Mintz just last month. He lives with her family in Swampscott. Mintz said giving Kayce his “off” time is important, too.
“He goes running down the beach and swimming in the ocean when he’s not here and is able to have that work-life balance of being a puppy,” she said.
But when Kayce is wearing his vest, this pup is all business — and all heart.
“When he walks into the unit, and he’s wagging his tail, and he goes to greet everybody and say ‘good morning,’ you can’t help but feel good,” said Mintz.
Kayce’s time at MGH was made possible by a grant from Dunkin’ and the company’s “Dunkin’ Joy in Childhood Foundation.”
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