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Seven-year-old Benny had just undergone hip surgery at Gillette Children’s when he met certified therapy dog Fire, a red Australian Shepherd. Fire and her handler, Barb, were making the rounds visiting patients to offer comfort and distraction. Instantly, Benny and Fire shared a strong and affectionate connection.
Benny was born prematurely at just 26 weeks with twin brother Adam and has faced many medical challenges associated with his cerebral palsy diagnosis. A longtime patient of Gillette’s outpatient physical therapy (PT) program, Benny had a deep fear of falling, hesitating to take more than a few steps during therapy. Sessions were physically and emotionally challenging for Benny, and progress came slowly.
That all changed when Benny and his mom, Jessica, discovered a book in the waiting area featuring Gillette’s therapy dogs. They remembered how impactful Fire’s visit was when Benny was recovering from surgery and asked if she could join Benny’s PT sessions.
“Benny has made more progress in the past couple of months since he started working with Fire than he had in the past couple of years,” says Jessica. “Working with a therapy dog has given him so much more confidence.”
Fire Brings Transformation
Now, Benny can’t wait for therapy with Fire, often counting the days until his next session. Jessica calls it a ‘complete transformation,’ as Benny now walks farther, stronger, and more confidently than ever. He and Fire play hide-and- seek, weave through cones to work on steering, practice side-stepping by putting their paws up on a handrail, and always make time for cuddles at the end of each session.
Working with Fire has also helped Benny connect with others. He shares photos of his therapy sessions with classmates, cheers Fire on at her agility competitions, and checks out dog books from the library to teach others what he’s learned about dogs.
Animal Assisted Therapy (AAT) has helped Benny grow physically, emotionally, and socially. It’s become a bridge that motivates him in therapy and helps him relate to other kids and feel included. Jessica says they leave therapy feeling something she didn’t always feel before—hope. “We can see the possibilities for his life now,” she says.
“Animal Assisted Therapy (AAT) is a free resource available to Gillette families,” says Gillette physical therapist Erin Peterson. “AAT has been proven to improve therapy outcomes by increasing motivation, reducing anxiety, and helping kids achieve their goals in a fun, supportive way. We’re excited to be able to offer this program to our patients.”
Programs like AAT are made possible thanks to donor support for Gillette’s Volunteer Services programs. Donors help ensure that volunteers like Barb and Fire can continue to motivate, comfort, and bring joy to patients, transforming therapy into something to look for- ward to for our patients and their lovable canine companions.
Interested in Animal Assisted Therapy at Gillette? Visit gillette.mn/AAT to learn more and request an appointment.
