EEH recruiting new dogs for Animal-Assisted Therapy program

Edward-Elmhurst Health is seeking more dogs for its Animal-Assisted Therapy program at Edward Hospital in Naperville and Elmhurst Hospital. To be considered, please visit www.eehealth.org/ways-to-give/... and complete the online application. Applicants will be contacted for pre-screening.

Those who meet qualification requirements will be scheduled for temperament testing on one of the following days – April 28, 29 or 30 – within a two-hour time slot at Edward Hospital, 801 S. Washington St. in Naperville.

Dogs and their handlers selected for the program must attend mandatory training at Edward Hospital, 801 S Washington St in Naperville on Saturday and Sunday, June 3 and 4, from 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. both days.

For more information, call Cynthia Brooks at (630) 527-5305, or email cynthia.brooks@eehealth.org.

To be considered, dogs must meet the following requirements:

• Sit/down/stay/recall/leave-it on command
• Walk loosely on a leash without pulling
• Get along well with other dogs
• Perform required commands without treats
• Like people
• Not be overly vocal
• Be at least one year of age at time of testing
• Lived with you for at least six months at time of testing
• Current on all vaccinations
• Prong collars, gentle leaders and retractable leashes are not accepted
• Handlers must be 18 years of age or older

Handlers and their dogs are encouraged to have completed a group obedience training class within the past year.

Edward-Elmhurst Health’s Animal-Assisted Therapy program began in 2002 and has done over 240,000 patient visits since the beginning of the program.