Bay Area Hospital welcomes therapy dogs

The Bay Area Hospital was full of smiles and wagging tails during the Coos County Working Dog Appreciation Event.

The hospital hosted the event to announce to the introduction of their second therapy dog, Jesse.

Community members came out for the event on Thursday, April 11, to meet Jesse and BB, as well as several other working dogs in the community. The event also coincided with National Therapy Dog Appreciation Day.

Hospital staff said their first therapy dog, BB, brought immense comfort and joy to patients, visitors, and staff since joining the team in 2023. With BB's presence enhancing the healing environment at BAH, the decision to expand the therapy dog program was met with overwhelming enthusiasm.

Those who came out for the Coos County Working Dog Appreciation Event had the chance learn more about the hospital's staff therapy dog program, meet the dogs from Furry Friends and other local organizations, and learn what resources are available for training and healthcare from BAH’s collaborators.

Deb Campbell brought several of her dogs to the event. She and Rex Campbell are owners and trainers at Campbell K9 University, and were involved with training the hospital’s therapy dogs.

Campbell said many different breeds of dogs can be used as therapy dogs, but the most important thing is that they have the right temperament, and are receptive to training.

“They can help both the staff and the patients during stressful times, and comfort people going through loss,” Campbell said.

“Dogs are medicine for everybody,” she said.