Ascension All Saints Hospital in Racine, Wisconsin, recently welcomed Bingo, a new therapy dog.
Two-year-old Bingo was trained by Kae Beecraft — Bingo's owner and one of the hospital’s Behavioral Health Outpatient Services therapists. Kae brings Bingo to the hospital two days a week, where he participates in an adolescent treatment group, a women’s group and a substance use disorder group.
He also sits in on individual counseling sessions and assessments. Here are some of the things Bingo can (and cannot) do, according to Stacey Yonkoski, LCSW, CSAC, Manager of Behavioral Health Outpatient Services:
Bingo can:
- Be watched – He's a barrel of laughs all on his own!
- Be petted – He adores being petted, and this helps lower patients’ stress hormones and regulate central nervous system components like heart and breath.
- Be sat with/sat next to/on lap – Bingo will sit next to you if you ask. He will also sit in your lap if you ask.
Bingo cannot:
- Be given snacks.
- Be called by you – This isn’t a rule. He just loves people and will do anything he can to get to someone who wants to pet him.
Animals have long been recognized as a positive addition to the healing process. In healthcare facilities, visits from therapy dogs have shown to bring increased happiness, calmness and overall emotional well-being.
