PAWS for People – Connecting Virtually

In this time of social distancing, our dedicated PAWS Pet-Therapy Teams are continuing to find creative ways to stay connected with our community. Some teams are providing PAWS for Reading sessions via video conferencing. Some are making and sending cards and pictures to residents in the facilities they visit. And others are connecting virtually through social media platforms.

Check out the list of libraries participating in virtual PAWS for Reading sessions.

Here are just a few examples of how our teams are continuing to provide encouragement, support, and love!

Monique & Mac

Lee Halloran from Beebe Healthcare in Sussex County, DE shared, “Our lab reached out to Monique and Mac Bamforth this week and they reached back out the same day and it was so heartwarming!”

Monique shared the photos she sent with PAWS and said, “I hope some of the people we visit weekly get to see our photos and know how much we miss them!”

Nancy & Honey

Nancy Brock and Honey transitioned right from in-person/pup visits to live Zoom sessions with Einstein Academy students in Wilmington, DE.

Nancy shared that April 3 was a special day for Honey, “She completed her 400th therapy visit with her favorite munchkins. We’ll celebrate when we can be together again.”

Jenn & George

Jenn Coombs-Kelly and George sent photo cards and handwritten notes to the residents they regularly visited at UMC Pitman in Pitman, NJ. (George dictated to Jenn.)

Sharon Yesner from UMC Pitman reached out to say, “The message and George’s business card were great. I had the opportunity to give them to the residents in the Tapestries unit. They loved them.”

Cindy & Roxy

Cindy Stolson took a quick pic of the personal notes she and Roxy sent to some of her favorite residents at Brandywine Senior Living in Rehoboth Beach, DE. “The residents fawn all over Roxy when we visit. I am sure they miss her as much as we miss them.”

Laury & Daisy

Laury Kusner shared, “Daisy and I have been visiting at Foulk Manor North for five years. We really miss everyone there since we haven’t been able to visit for a month. I know that many of the residents and staff are missing us too. Daisy and I made flyers to give to the residents and to post for the staff. Our next door neighbor children helped decorate these so each flyer was unique and colorful. When I dropped off the flyers, I was able to speak briefly with a staff members outside who was happy to receive them. I hope this little project helped spread a little PAWS magic and gave a few people a smile.”

Becky, Katara, Robbie, & Goslar

Becky Cronin and her fur babies, Katara, Robbie, and Goslar, sent a note to ChristianaCare Helen F. Graham Cancer Center and Research Institute with some pictures to let them know how much they were missing their visits with patients and staff.

Jeannie, Ana, & Kylie

Jeannie Rial’s family designed cards with their therapy pet, Kylie’s picture, to send to the residents of Harrison House. Ana, a Teen member, and Jeanie wanted the residents to know that they were thinking of them.

Michele & Zoey

Michele Bickling and Zoey may be quarantined in Marathon, FL, but they found a great way to spend their time.  Zoey has been Zooming with her kindergarten friends at Penn London Elementary School in West Grove, PA. She loves hearing books about cats!

Luann, Goofy, & Bella

Luann D’Agostino, who visits with Goofy and Bella, made great collages of the teams who visit at the ChristianaCare facilities. They will be shown on the monitors throughout all of the ChristianaCare sites to show support for the staff working on the front lines.

Mary & Bella

Mary LaJudice regularly provides PAWS Pet therapy at ChristianaCare’s Newark Campus visiting multiple units, including 4E which has been turned into a COVID patient unit. Unable to visit in person and wanting to let the staff know that she was thinking about them, Mary has sent a picture or two each week of her pup, Bella Donna, to give them a chuckle. They have been such a hit that the nurse manager keeps asking for more.

Jocelyn & Shadow

Jocelyn Langrehr and Shadow, her therapy cat, call the staff at Cadia Rehab Silverside every day with something positive to share.

 
Beginning April 1st, they decided they would do this regularly and they have only missed 1 or 2 days since. The calls are maybe 10 minutes, sometimes 15, but always super fun.

Lynne & Tory

Lynne Robinson and Tory, her therapy pup, have had an ongoing Special Request visit with a child who is reluctant to speak to people outside her family. When COVID-19 stopped in-person visits, Melissa’s mom thought of “the Brave Game.” For the first round of the game, Melissa’s mom emailed a list of questions about Miraculous – Ladybug and Cat Noir, a favorite cartoon. Lynne and Tory asked the questions over the phone and Melissa answered them. Being an expert about Miraculous, Melissa got every one right!

 
When the first playing of the “Brave Game” was a success, Tory took a turn writing questions about himself and emailed them to Melissa. They are planning another phone call this week when Melissa will ask Tory the questions and Lynne will help him answer.

Bill & Skipper

Bill Sudell has been emailing messages to the friends that he and Skipper, his therapy pup, have made visit at the sites where they regularly visit including McVey Elementary School, Nemours/AI duPont Hospital for Children, Easter Seals, and the Terry Center. This is his one of his recent messages.

 
“Skipper the skipper says, ‘Ahoy Mateys! Hope you are all well and that I can see you soon.'”

Bev & Soleil

Bev Shreve and her therapy companion, Soleil, virtually visited residents at Cokesbury Village’s Assisted Living and Memory Care units.

 
Bev shared, “I just loved seeing all the residents that I have come to know and love.”

Mary & Piper

Each week, the residents of Somerford gather to join a special Zoom session with a PAWS Pet Therapy Team. This week, Mary Skopowski and Piper joined Somerford’s staff host, Mary O’Brian, and an enthusiastic group of folks for a spirited session full of conversation and laughter.

PAWS May Message to Sites

In an effort to reach out to the pet therapy recipients at the sites we visit, PAWS sent a poster with the following message to all of our site liaisons:

 
“Our PAWS therapy teams are missing visiting with everyone. Although we cannot be with you in person, we want to share some photos to make you smile and remind you that we are still here for you. These photos come with our love and hopes that you are healthy and safe. Until we meet again… please know we truly care.”