Your Gifts Provided Hope and Comfort Love On 4 Paws Animal-Assisted Therapy

Belle Every other Sunday, volunteer Tina Appel and her gentle, 16-year-old black Maltipoo, Belle, walk the halls of Adventist Health White Memorial, spreading warmth and comfort. Belle, a small lap dog that is blind in one eye and deaf, joins Appel to visit patients as part of our animal-assisted therapy program with Love On 4 Paws.

For many patients, Belle’s visits are a reminder of home, family and companionship. Some patients have no visitors, while others simply miss their own pets. One young patient was so touched that they asked to take Belle home. After each visit, Appel snaps a Polaroid of the patient with Belle, captioned, “Your visit with Belle.” Many hold onto this simple memento for years, treasuring the memory of their time with Belle.

Adventist Health White Memorial has offered animal-assisted therapy since 2014. Therapy animals are on campus four days a week, bringing smiles and joy to the patients they serve.

Animal-assisted therapy has many benefits for both mental and physical health, including:

Increased relaxation.
Increased mental stimulation.
Improved cardiovascular health.
Decreased anxiety.
Decreased loneliness.
Decreased blood pressure.
Decreased pain.

“I am glad that Belle’s presence reminds people of home,” said Appel.

Love On 4 Paws, a nonprofit organization, provides these compassionate moments through the support of donors like you. Your generous associate gifts help cover the costs of cameras, film, uniforms, sanitary supplies, vet checkups and outreach expenses. Read Belle’s bio on the Love On 4 Paws website.

Thank you for making these small yet powerful moments possible.