After a very long “paws,” certified therapy dogs are returning to NorthBay Health’s hospitals, to help provide a calming influence for patients, visitors and staff.

Several certified pet therapy dogs and their owners recently stepped forward to help reinstitute a pet visitation program at NorthBay, and recruitment for others to join the Pawsitive Companions Program is well under way. The goal is to have enough volunteers certified through the Alliance of Therapy Dogs (ATD) to serve shifts in the hospital seven days a week.

Interested in learning how to become a certified pet therapy handler? Contact Robin Hunt, Volunteer Services Manager at (707) 646-3145, or at Robin.Hunt@NorthBay.org.