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​It's no wonder that Apple Fritter, an 8-year-old rescue-turned-therapy dog, is a bit of a celebrity on most units on Oregon State Hospital's Salem campus. She's as sweet as her namesake and happily she welcomes hands reaching out to pat her graying head or pet her auburn coat. But Apple Fritter also understands her role as a helper and the patients who spend time with her understand that, too.

“Not a lot of people can pick up on your emotions," said Luppay, an OSH patient who has spent one-on-one time with Apple Fritter and her handler, Gillian Quaal, an OSH occupational therapist. “With Fritter, I've noticed when I'm not feeling good, she'll pick up on it. It's like she knows, 'Luppay is not OK.' She'll walk up to me and I'll pet her. It puts me in a better mood than where I was."

Apple Fritter is part of the hospital's efforts to revitalize and grow its animal-assisted therapy program post-pandemic by starting with a few community volunteers and licensed patient care staff with trained therapy animals.

“Our goal is to increase access to animal-assisted interventions because it's an intervention that treats the whole person. There are so many ways that therapy animals can support patient hope and recovery," said Jacqueline Fullerton, Associate Director of OSH's Occupational and Physical Therapy program.

The bond between a person and animal acts as the catalyst to the underlying benefits of including an animal in therapy or even in everyday activities, like outdoor walks with patients, Fullerton added.

The benefits of animal therapy or animal-assisted intervention are based in research that shows the animal's presence and petting them can help boost moods and reduce stress in addition to helping build or improve social and motor skills, and empathy. The animals offer a safe opportunity for therapeutic touch and non-judgmental social interactions. OSH therapists who incorporate a therapy animal in their interactions with patients have also seen the animals help them build trust and motivation to participate more actively in their recovery.

Community volunteer Eric Schuman and his two Golden Retrievers, Rikki and Kimber, both visit OSH patients with an occupational therapist. He likens animal therapy to a “ministry of presence."

“I cannot think of a better description of my dogs' interactions with patients," Schuman said. “They instinctively know that their job is to bring comfort and love to people who are hurting – whether that pain be physical, mental or spiritual."

Fullerton is leading the redevelopment of the animal therapy program and part of her drive is her own personal experiences bonding with her Maltese as she recovered from a painful surgery.

“(He) gave me hope and motivation to do what was hard and sometimes painful," Fullerton shared.

In the same way, Fullerton and other OSH therapists and animal therapy volunteers have witnessed the impact the presence of therapy animals has had on patients' progress.

Volunteer Rhonda Herbert believes Daphne, her sheepadoodle, has a magical way of connecting with patients.

“When Daphne nuzzles close to the patients, it's as if she whispers, 'You're not alone, we're in this together,'" Herbert said. “It's very inspiring to witness. Sometimes that simple message can heal more than medicine ever could. She seems to immediately have a positive impact on patients. Often bringing smiles to patients for the first time. Conversations have started for the first time as well. Patients' stress levels decrease. They feel less lonely when she is in their presence. Daphne's hugs and kisses create moments of joy long after she leaves."

Schuman shared similar experiences, including his first OSH patient interaction with his now deceased therapy dog, Sophie. The patient had been non-verbal, depressed and had not left her bed that day for meals or activities. When he and an occupational therapist entered the patient's room with Sophie, the patient was in a fetal position with her eyes closed.

“I told her that Sophie was here to visit, at which she opened one eye and began to cry, 'I had a dog,' she told me, 'and I still miss her. Sophie is beautiful,'" Schuman recalled.

The patient eventually ventured out of her room and sought Sophie out during the visit to spend more time with the dog.

The animals are valuable assets to help therapists create deeper connections with their patients and broach topics like how to identify and regulate emotions through talking about how they feel before and after their time with the therapy animal.

“Providing the ability to engage in healthy touch and connection through animal-assisted therapy is so powerful, because in this setting opportunities to safely engage in this type of physical connection are limited," Quaal said. “Being able to work with individuals to build social and emotional regulation skills through therapeutic connection with an animal has been one of the most meaningful parts of my career as an occupational therapist."

Interested in learning more about the OSH animal therapy program? Community members with trained therapy animals may contact OSH Associate Director of Creative Arts and Recreation Therapies Caitlin Harman at caitlin.harman@oha.oregon.gov about volunteer opportunities.