Pet Therapy

Being in the hospital can be a stressful time for you and your family. To make your stay at Bronson the best it can be, we offer pet therapy by request. Our talented and specially trained canine volunteers help bring comfort and smiles everywhere they go.

Pet therapy has been shown to provide several benefits for patients. It can:

Provide distraction from pain and anxiety
Alleviate sadness and depression
Encourage healing
Promote physical activity
Enhance physical rehabilitation and speech therapy
Reduce blood pressure

Meet our furry friends

Our pet therapy program began in the pediatric unit at Bronson Methodist Hospital more than 20 years ago. Due to overwhelming success, you can now request a visit from our furry friends in several units at Bronson LakeView, Bronson Battle Creek and Bronson Methodist hospitals.

Meet Cash

Breed: Bernese Mountain Dog
Volunteer since: 2015
Volunteers with: Teresa
Certification: Canine Good Citizen and Therapy Dogs International
Location: Bronson Methodist Hospital
Fun Facts:

AKC Champion show dog with 4 obedience titles
Loves to swim and jump off the diving board into the pool
Lives on a farm with 2 other dogs, 2 horses, 3 cats, a bunny and a bird

Meet Connie Lynn

Breed: Retriever mix
Volunteer since: 2019
Volunteers with: Linda
Certification: Alliance of Therapy Dogs
Location: Bronson Methodist Hospital
Fun Facts:

Will sit up and beg to get a belly rub
Does many tricks including rolling over and jumping through a hula hoop

Meet Crystal

Breed: Samoyed
Volunteer since: 2018
Volunteers with: Carol
Certification: Therapy Dog International
Location: Bronson Battle Creek
Fun Facts:

Therapy dog for ten years
Retired sled dog
Weight pull champion

Meet Lyric

Breed: Old English Sheepdog
Volunteer since: 2017
Volunteers with: Paula and Cliff
Membership: Alliance of Therapy Dogs
Location: Bronson Methodist Hospital
Fun Facts:

Lyric is a retired champion show dog
Likes to play hide and seek
Falls asleep in the bathtub

Meet Lulu

Breed: Shih Tzu
Volunteer since: 2017
Volunteers with: Mary
Certification: Alliance of Therapy Dogs
Location: Bronson Methodist Hospital
Fun Facts:

Favorite toy is a teddy bear pillow, which is almost bigger than she is
Loves to fly on airplanes to visit family
Doesn’t like the rain, she hides in a closet and looks at the ceiling

Meet Mr. Schultz

Breed: Giant Schnauzer
Volunteer since: 2015
Volunteers with: Susan
Certification: Canine Good Citizen
Membership: Pet Partners
Location: Bronson Lakeview Hospital
Fun Facts:

Can flip a dog treat off his nose and catch it in his mouth
Loves to fetch tennis balls thrown in the lake
Is a strong swimmer, but has to relearn how to swim every spring

Meet Turbo Pablos

Breed: Greyhound
Volunteer since: 2019
Volunteers with: Jerry and Shannon
Membership: Alliance of Therapy Dogs
Location: Bronson Methodist Hospital
Fun Facts:

Retired racer, now a 45 MPH couch potato
Knows English and Spanish commands
Enjoys squeaky toys and napping upside down
Loves meeting people

Meet Winter

Breed: Giant Schnauzer
Volunteer since: 2013
Volunteers with: Sue
Certification: Canine Good Citizen and Pet Partners
Location: Bronson Lakeview Hospital
Fun Facts: