A Day in the Life of Alpine, the Therapy Dog

It’s hard to believe it’s been almost a year since our beloved therapy dog, Alpine, joined the Arbor Hospice team. For those of you who don’t know Alpine, she’s a two-year-old female Golden Retriever that we acquired through a partnership with Rochester Hills-based Leader Dogs for the Blind. Alpine brings comfort and companionship to patients and their families and also participates in our grief support programs.

Studies have shown the great health benefits of using trained animals in patient care, including decreases in blood pressure and reductions in anxiety, loneliness and depression. And Alpine has certainly made a difference in the lives of many Arbor Hospice patients, and their families.

Since joining Arbor Hospice, Alpine’s days have been filled with visits across southeast Michigan. She’s had a positive impact on our patients, who continue to ask for her to come back again and again. From resting her head in a patient’s lap to sitting obediently while a patient pets her, Alpine knows just what it takes to lift the spirits of someone in need of comfort.

Arbor Hospice Volunteer Helen Buccella-Costa, one of Alpine’s handlers shares this story of the dog’s soothing presence during a recent patient visit:

 “The family was glad to see Alpine when we arrived. The patient asked to see Alpine, who she often called her “baby.” Alpine's presence was a nice diversion for the family, too. There were two children in the home who played with her. While petting Alpine, one of the little girls said, ‘Alpine you are going to miss Grandma too, aren't you?’ They all knew how this patient felt about Alpine.

It really was a very beautiful thing to see what was happening in that home. Dinner was on the stove cooking, so the house was full of wonderful aromas. People were not walking around talking in hushed tones. Life was happening. Family members walked freely in and out of the patient's room, all involved in one way or another helping the patient by touching her, saying words of comfort, giving her medicine, talking to each other and telling stories at her bedside. When Alpine and I were leaving, the daughter stood on the outside deck and expressed several times how much she appreciated what hospice has done.”

When Alpine isn’t working, she can often be found relaxing in her kennel at Arbor Hospice’s Ann Arbor or Plymouth offices. She spends nights and weekends at home with her host mother, one of Arbor Hospice’s nurses and, like all dogs, loves going for walks, playing and swimming.

I’d like to thank Alpine and our volunteer handlers for all they’ve done to bring joy and comfort to Arbor Hospice patients, their families and our community. Your visits are just what the doctor ordered!

Arbor Hospice is looking for people interested in becoming a volunteer handler for Alpine. If you live in the Plymouth or downriver area, and you are interested in taking Alpine to patient homes or facilities in that area, please contact Gerry Gold at ggold@arborhospice.org.

You can follow Alpine on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ArborHospiceAlpine. For information about the complete range of services Arbor Hospice offers, visit www.arborhospice.org.