Tulsa Nursing Home Residents Get Special Visit From Therapy Dog

It’s Volunteer Week, a time set aside to promote and recognize the importance of volunteers and volunteering.

Many agencies rely on volunteers to accomplish their mission.

Most of those volunteers have two legs, but this story is about a four-legged one.

Karly is a Wheaten Terrier. She went Parks Edge Wednesday to visit two Grace Hospice clients who live there. 

"We make at least a visit every week somewhere," said Lynn Pike. 

Lynn said when he retired, he got Karly, got her trained and certified as a therapy dog, and they've been volunteering together ever since. In fact, Grace Hospice presented an award to Karly and Lynn for most pet therapy hours volunteered last year.

They stopped in to see Donna Waddell, she's a Grace Hospice client and loves dogs. Lynn said they just pop in to say hi and stay just a few minutes.

There are plenty of studies that show that visits like this reduce stress and can be a positive distraction. 

"We use volunteers for visiting patients," said Livia Gosnell. 

She said they have 200 clients in Northeast Oklahoma and are always looking for compassionate people who are good listeners like Karly and Lynn.