Contact: Alice Warchol at (757) 668-9049
or email Alice.Warchol@CHKD.org
Public Invited to Vote for Favorite Pups in Facebook Contest for Tail-Waggin’ Fun
NORFOLK, Va. – CHKD is celebrating the 20th anniversary of its Buddy Brigade pet therapy program with a “pupularity” contest on Facebook. The program, which started with only seven dogs, currently has 41 four-legged volunteers to visit children who are hospitalized or receiving outpatient care in the hospital’s cancer clinic.
“When we started this program 20 years ago, we had no idea how much these pups and volunteers would mean to our patients, their families and our staff,” said Joy Parker, director Volunteer Services and Family Centered Care. “Buddy Brigade dogs provide unconditional love, motivation, peace of mind and so much more. Our organization has embraced pet therapy wholeheartedly, and we look forward to what the future brings.”
Throughout the years, 233 dogs – current members included – have lifted the spirits and provided comfort, snuggles and diversion to young patients. The sweet pups are treated like local celebrities with patients often asking if they can take their photo. All of the dogs have been certified by Alliance of Therapy Dogs or Pet Partners, and have been thoroughly trained and evaluated to work with children. Each dog must pass a rigorous behavioral and physical screening process.
CHKD’s Buddy Brigade make visits to CHKD’s main hospital at 601 Children’s Lane, CHKD’s Child Advocacy Centers in Norfolk and Newport News, CHKD’s Children’s Pavilion - where kids receive inpatient and outpatient mental health services - and the CHKD Health Center at Oakbrooke in Chesapeake.
To commemorate 20 years of pet therapy, CHKD is conducting a fun contest on Facebook where followers can vote for their favorite dogs in several categories such as Most Likely to Steal Your Heart, Best Hair and Best Head Tilt. The contest runs from Aug. 4 to Aug. 15. Visit Facebook.com/CHKDHS to vote. Video b-roll of the Buddy Brigade in action is available upon request to media representatives.
