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'Furry Angels' boost morale at JB MDL

  • Published
  • By 2nd Lt Alexis McGee
  • Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst Public Affairs
JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J. --  Seven therapy dogs and their handlers visited the 87th Medical Group to meet ill and injured service members and their families here Feb. 29.

The four-legged therapists and their owners have been visiting various places on Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst since January 2010.

The entourage is part of the 80-member local chapter of the Bright and Beautiful Therapy Dogs organization, calling themselves the "Furry Angels." The Furry Angels also visit multiple places in Monmouth and Ocean Counties.

The group began visiting Soldiers at the Joint Readiness Center in January 2010 before expanding their support to include the entire joint base in November.

"Most of the service members love seeing dogs," said Dawn Gaudenti, Furry Angels dog handler. "The service members will share stories with us about their dogs, even showing us pictures of pets back home."

The dogs begin their visits at the 87th MDG by traveling through the patient waiting areas on the first floor where patients and dogs can mutually show their affection. The group then travels upstairs to the various clinics including optometry, mental health and physical therapy visiting with patients along the way.

"Everybody likes to see us," said Sue Weiss, Furry Angels dog handler. "The dogs pick up on what people need and then they work their magic."

Smiles lit up the staff's and patients' faces as soon as the dogs entered the 87th MDG.

"It makes a world of a difference to the people here," said 2nd Lt. Maggie Rudolphi, 732nd Airlift Squadron, C-17 Globemaster III pilot from Champaign, Ill. "It's really nice that they do this."

The dogs are not selective with their affection and happily greet anyone who passes by, patient or not. The 87th MDG patients and staff recognized the dogs and even knew some of the canines by name.

"These visits are important because they are a good resiliency break for our team members and patients," said Col. James Burks, 87th MDG commander. "I believe in the benefits these dogs provide by helping to calm and heal our patients."

The therapy dogs and handlers receive special training before they can join the Bright and Beautiful Therapy Dogs. The dogs and handlers attend a six-week course that includes obedience, socialization, canine-to-canine interaction, food avoidance and human-to-canine interaction. The dogs are also familiarized with medical equipment such as walkers, canes and crutches and learn how to approach wheelchairs and beds when visiting patients. The dogs must pass a test following training to become registered therapy dogs, Gaudenti explained.

Dogs who visit with demobilizing service members also have the opportunity to bring joy to returning service members.

"Many demobilizing troops tell us they have not been able to touch a dog in a year," said Gaudenti. "Some tell us about the working dogs in their units."

Burks said he learned about Furry Angels through a friend of the program and had always said if he ever became a medical group commander, he wanted to implement the pet-therapy program.

"It's another way we promote a healing environment," said Burks. "In addition, it's a great quality-of-life improvement for the installation."

The dogs may improve morale at the 87th MDG, but for Coal, Aurora, P.J. and Tori - four of the seven dogs who visit the 87th MDG - it's just another day of belly rubs.