Man’s best friend eases stress at Health First hospitals

4 months ago

ONE, SO WE’RE EXCITED TO BRING IT TO YOU. ALL RIGHT. NOW TO A STORY. YOU’LL SEE ONLY ON WESH TWO. SOME GOOD NEWS IN A PLACE WHERE IT CAN BE HARD TO FIND IT. MAN’S BEST FRIEND IS COMFORTING PATIENTS AT SOME LOCAL HOSPITALS. AND IT IS AN IMPORTANT JOB. WESH TWO BREVARD COUNTY REPORTER MEGAN MORIARTY SHOWS US THE FURRY FACES INSIDE HOSPITALS MAKING A BIG DIFFERENCE. INSIDE THE HEALTH FIRST CAPE CANAVERAL HOSPITAL. YOU’LL SEE JAMMER FIVE DAYS A WEEK WORKING THROUGHOUT THE FACILITY ON DIFFERENT FLOORS. IT MIGHT SEEM LIKE ALL PLAY AND NO WORK, BUT JAMMER IS A FACILITY DOG TRAINED TO PERFORM TASKS FOR PATIENTS, PUSH VERY GOOD FROM OPENING AND CLOSING DRAWERS. GET GIVE VERY GOOD, VERY GOOD TO PICKING UP ITEMS THAT MIGHT HAVE FALLEN TO THE FLOOR. HE ACTUALLY CAN GO INTO ICU BECAUSE HE’S TRAINED TO BE AROUND THOSE TYPES OF EQUIPMENT. THE SIGHTS, THE SOUNDS, THE SMELLS OF BEING IN A HOSPITAL. WHILE JAMMER IS THE ONLY FACILITY DOG AT HEALTH FIRST AND ESSENTIALLY A JACK OF ALL TRADES, HE HAS LOTS OF HELP FROM SEVERAL DIFFERENT THERAPY DOGS LIKE PARSLEY, PAKI, VISTA AND WALLY, WHO PROVIDE COMFORT TO PATIENTS DURING DIFFICULT TIMES. AND WHAT WE LEARN IN TRAUMA PASTORAL CARE IS YOU HAVE TO GO THROUGH TRAUMA. YOU HAVE TO GO THROUGH IT. YOU CAN’T GO AROUND IT. BUT ONCE IN A WHILE, A BREAK FROM IT, A MOMENTARY BREAK FROM THAT AWFULNESS, MAYBE JUST IN THE FORM OF A FACEFUL OF FUR IN A IN A DOG IS JUST A HUGE HELP. JUST TO GIVE PEOPLE AN IDEA THAT IT’S NOT ALWAYS GOING TO BE THIS BAD. THERE’S MORE THAN 20 THERAPY DOGS ACROSS HEALTH FIRST HOSPITALS, THROUGH CANINE COMPANIONS OR ALLIANCE THERAPY. HEALTH WORKERS HERE SAY THEY’VE NOT ONLY NOTICED A DIFFERENCE IN PATIENT’S MENTAL HEALTH FROM THESE DOGS, BUT IT ALSO HAS HELPED FAMILY MEMBERS AND FELLOW MEDICAL STAFF BECAUSE AT THE END OF THE DAY, THERE AREN’T WORDS THAT YOU CAN USE THAT FIX SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE SEE IN THE HOSPITAL. BUT A THERAPY DOG OR A FACILITY DOG CAN GIVE THEM THAT. JUST THAT MOMENT OF UNDERSTANDING THAT LIFE CAN, CAN AND WILL GET A LITTLE BIT BETTER. COVERI

Man’s best friend eases stress at Health First hospitals

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Updated: 8:27 PM EDT Sep 16, 2025

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Health First hospitals are employing dogs to cheer up patients and also to assist families during difficult times.WESH 2 met Jammer, the hospital system’s facility dog.“He actually works five days a week,” said Joelle Boccabella, manager of volunteer and community services for Health First. “The difference between a facility dog and a therapy dog is that a therapy dog goes through certification and training once. Jammer has to be recertified every year.”Jammer can do things like open and close doors. He can pick up items that may have fallen on the floor, and he lies down with patients.There are also more than 20 therapy dogs that visit Health First hospitals.“What we learn in trauma pastoral care is you have to go through a trauma; you can’t go around it,” said deacon Tom Buddington. “But once in a while — a break from it, a momentary break from that awfulness — maybe just in the form of a face full of fur from a dog — is just a huge help. It gives people an idea that it’s not always going to be this bad.”The therapy dogs come from Canine Companions and Alliance Therapy.Health workers said they’ve noticed a difference not only in patients’ mental health but also in family members and fellow medical staff.“Because at the end of the day, there aren’t words that fit some of the things we see in the hospital,” Buddington said. “But a therapy dog or a facility dog can give them just a moment of understanding that life can and will get a little bit better.”

BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. —

Health First hospitals are employing dogs to cheer up patients and also to assist families during difficult times.

WESH 2 met Jammer, the hospital system’s facility dog.

“He actually works five days a week,” said Joelle Boccabella, manager of volunteer and community services for Health First. “The difference between a facility dog and a therapy dog is that a therapy dog goes through certification and training once. Jammer has to be recertified every year.”

Jammer can do things like open and close doors. He can pick up items that may have fallen on the floor, and he lies down with patients.

There are also more than 20 therapy dogs that visit Health First hospitals.

“What we learn in trauma pastoral care is you have to go through a trauma; you can’t go around it,” said deacon Tom Buddington. “But once in a while — a break from it, a momentary break from that awfulness — maybe just in the form of a face full of fur from a dog — is just a huge help. It gives people an idea that it’s not always going to be this bad.”

The therapy dogs come from Canine Companions and Alliance Therapy.

Health workers said they’ve noticed a difference not only in patients’ mental health but also in family members and fellow medical staff.

“Because at the end of the day, there aren’t words that fit some of the things we see in the hospital,” Buddington said. “But a therapy dog or a facility dog can give them just a moment of understanding that life can and will get a little bit better.”

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