Therapy dogs bring quiet companionship to patients at Concord Hospital

Richard Berlinguette lay down alone in an inpatient room at Concord Hospital, recovering from broken bones after a car crash just days after Christmas, when a visitor padded through the door.

Gigi, an eight-year-old English Labrador Retriever, walked into the room and instantly, Berlinguette’s face brightened.

His voice warmed with excitement as he greeted the therapy dog, whose weekly Wednesday rounds bring comfort not only to patients, but to nurses, doctors and staff throughout the hospital. 

“It was nice to have a visit from Gigi at a time when everyone else is busy,” said 71-year-old Berlinguette. “Gigi took time out of her schedule to share her love with people.”

Gigi is one of 13 dogs in Concord Hospital’s Pets Uplift People (PUP) volunteer program, where specially trained therapy dogs and their handler offer something medicine alone cannot — quiet companionship and a different kind of support. 

As Berlinguette began recounting the terrifying moments of his rollover accident on Interstate 93, his voice faltered. Trapped in the wreckage, he feared his wife might not be alive. 

Later, he learned that his 68-year-old wife had been able to get out and had desperately tried to flag down people in passing cars on the highway for help, but none stopped.

Sensing the shift in his emotions, Gigi moved closer to the bed, curling herself tighter against him. When her handler and owner, Patti Dann, gently signaled that it was time to move on to the next patient, Gigi hesitated.

“She sometimes will see that there is more of a need with a patient and will curl up a little tighter and want to stay a little longer,” she said.

Every dog in the program is a certified therapy dog and goes through a thorough evaluation process at the hospital. This includes visiting a simulation center, where staff observe how each dog interacts with patients in a hospital-like environment.

Jessica Bailey, the hospital’s volunteer services program manager, said that a hospital setting is very different from other places therapy dogs might visit, such as libraries or schools.

“There are a lot of different smells. There are a lot of different noises,” Bailey said. “We just want to make sure the dog is comfortable and happy to be here because the last thing we want to do is have a dog be stressed here.”

As Gigi made her way through the hallways on her way to see the next patient, it was clear she wasn’t just lifting patients’ spirits. 

Doctors and hospital staff couldn’t resist stopping during their rounds to say hello, giving her pets and scratching her belly.

Gigi seemed to enjoy every moment just as much as the people around her. Her tail wagged nonstop, a sure sign she was right where she wanted to be.

“It’s clear that she is a dog that loves to visit people. She can’t get enough attention and she always has read a room,” said Dann.

Therapy dogs usually visit the hospital for one to two hours on weekdays, and patients or grieving families can request a visit.

Hospital staff say these visits often bring out strong emotions, sometimes tears, sometimes heartfelt thanks. Patients are always eager for more dogs to come to their rooms.

“I don’t do it for me,” Dann said. “It is very fulfilling when you see a patient who truly benefits. But it’s all that the dogs are just so happy doing it.”

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