Hospitals in our area are always looking to new techniques to improve patient satisfaction now one is turning to the dogs for help.

Dog owner, Theresa Geraci a nurse a OSF St. Anthony's has started an animal assisted therapy program at the hospital to help patients with the recovery process. Part of the program is that patients every morning will be asked if they'd like a visit from a dog, if they say yes one will come by later in the day.

Geraci hopes therapy dogs will reduce patient's stress, anxiety, and blood pressure plus make them feel more comfortable.

"We believe at OSF at taking care of the whole patient, not only their physical needs but their emotional needs and we believe a dog coming in to decrease anxiety, is fun."

Now is our chance to sign up. OSF is recruiting dogs and their owners to volunteer.

"We'll take small dogs, medium dogs, large dogs. They just need to be well behaved and that their owner really wants to volunteer and give back to the community. this is a way you can do it with your pet."

Applications for the therapy program are available online at www.osfhealth.com and are due by August 1, 2008. Qualifying dogs will go through temperament testing, scheduled for September 13, 2008. There will be a $30.00 fee for this testing. Dogs that pass will be invited to a mandatory four-day training program through Midwest Canine Academy and Paws 4 Therapy on two consecutive weekends, October 4 and 5 and October 11 and 12, 2008. Dogs successfully completing the training will be registered with Therapy Dogs, Inc.