Pediatric patients at Sanford Children’s Hospital in Fargo now have a friendly, furry companion to help them navigate their care and treatment thanks to the generosity of one special organization.
A $200,000 lead gift from NutriSource Pet Foods, a KLN Family Brands company, establishes the NutriSource Facility Dog Program at Sanford Children’s, a first-of-its-kind program for the Fargo region and the entire Sanford footprint that uses Animal-Assisted Therapy (AAT) to provide care, promote healing and improve the emotional well-being of pediatric patients.
Fox, the adorable Golden Retriever, will serve as an important member of the Sanford Children’s Hospital care team, said Katy Easter, lead Child Life specialist at Sanford Children’s Hospital
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“Unlike other therapy animals, facility dogs and their handlers—who are certified Child Life specialists—are able to be in a patient’s room during medical procedures to comfort children and families during particularly stressful moments. Facility dogs also help patients achieve various clinical goals through pain management, procedural support, outcome-driven play, sibling and family support, and more.”
Lead Child Life Specialist
Fox recently completed an extensive education program led by Canine Assistants, a Georgia-based nonprofit dedicated to educating and placing service dogs with individuals and in health care settings. After spending additional educational time with his local handler, Fox joined the Children’s team in late July.
| Follow Fox in Instagram at @FoxTheFacilityDog to see him at work!
Giving for Good
The NutriSource Facility Dog Program at Sanford Children’s will be fueled 100% by philanthropy, meaning families will never receive a bill for this important service.
“At NutriSource, we are passionate about the health of our children, families and pets. We’re honored to deepen our commitment to these areas through this exciting partnership with Sanford Health to create the NutriSource Facility Dog Program at Sanford Children’s,” said Chase Rasmussen, president of KLN Family Brands. “There’s something undeniably special about the bond between pets and kids. It’s a connection that offers healing, comfort, companionship and emotional support, as well as smiles and a sense of peace during challenging times. We’re excited to see how this program will make an impact for pediatric patients and families.”
About Facility Dogs
Different than a therapy dog, a facility dog uses Animal-Assisted Therapy (AAT) to care for the physical and emotional needs of pediatric patients. A facility dog can:
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- Demonstrate medication administration
- Motivate patients to move or ambulate after surgery
- Help with pain management
- Comfort patients and loved ones who are facing chronic or life-changing illnesses
- Help patients cope with the stress and anxiety with opportunities for therapeutic expression
Ashley Erickson serves as vice president for operations for Sanford Health Fargo. She said the facility dog will enhance the work of Sanford’s Child Life team to create even better experiences for pediatric patients.
“We are pawsitively thrilled to welcome a facility dog to Sanford Children’s Hospital and we couldn’t be more grateful to NutriSource Pet Foods for their generous support of this program that will make such a difference for our pediatric patients,” Erickson said. “Our Child Life specialists are experts at supporting pediatric patients and their families holistically throughout their health care journey. Combining a facility dog’s calming presence with a child life specialist’s medical and therapeutic expertise will offer our pediatric patients and families unmatched care, support and healing.”
Dr. Jacob Fish, Medical Officer of Sanford Children’s Hospital Fargo, agreed.
“We extend our heartfelt thanks and profound gratitude to NutriSource Pet Foods for helping to launch this truly beautiful and innovative program,” Dr. Fish said.
Amy Hinkemeyer is vice president for the Sanford Health Foundation in Fargo and said the NutriSource Facility Dog Program at Sanford Children’s is another example of how philanthropy can change lives.
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“Philanthropy fuels everything we do at Sanford Children’s — from advancing lifesaving equipment and technology, to supporting meaningful programs and services that touch the lives of patients and families when it matters most. Thanks to this extraordinary gift from NutriSource Pet Foods, we’ll now be able to bring even more hope, healing and comfort to those we serve. We are so very grateful.”
Vice President, Sanford Health Foundation Fargo & Bemidji
About NutriSource® Pet Foods
NutriSource® is a line of premium pet food and treat products manufactured by Tuffy’s Pet Foods and Tuffy’s Pet Treats, subsidiaries of KLN Enterprises, Inc., a third-generation family-owned company based in Perham, MN. Tuffy’s Pet Foods has specialized in the manufacturing of pet food and treats since 1964. NutriSource® has a long history of investing in the health and well-being of pets throughout the world. Today, NutriSource® offers a variety of different dog and cat food products across their four lines of NutriSource®, NutriSource PureVita®, NutriSource® Element Series and NutriSource® Choice. NutriSource® product offerings include kibble, wet, treats and toppers. For more information, visit nutrisourcepetfoods.com.