The unexpected visitors brought joy to both the patients and the department's staff! Meeting the dogs brought genuine happiness, with almost everyone reaching for their phones to take pictures with these amazingly beautiful dogs. It was a moment of respite in the daily routine, evoking very positive emotions.
Canisterapy, or dog therapy, is an interdisciplinary form of therapy related to occupational therapy and physiotherapy, promoting communication and providing emotional support. It's a wonderful therapy for sick people who lack motivation and social interaction.
The therapy dogs that visited the patients were Great Pyrenees and Bernese Mountain Dogs. These dogs were raised from puppyhood as assistants in psychological rehabilitation, providing gentle tenderness and boundless patience when interacting with sick people, allowing themselves to be cuddled by strangers and to adapt to unexpected situations.
Immediately after the dogs' visit, accompanied by professional canisterapists, each ward was also visited by volunteers from "Hospice LV," dedicating time to conversations about the unexpected joy experienced, treating patients with snacks from "Liepkalni" bakery and other treats, as well as sandwiches, coffee, and strawberry ice cream!
"Hospice LV" plans to conduct such joyous dog visits regularly, at least once a month, in other hospitals in Riga as well.