Zoomies - Not Just a Funny Dog Trait Anymore!

How your support has transformed the way Therapy Teams visit people in need during these uncertain times.

Hand in Paw has been faced with the ultimate challenge: how do our Therapy Teams make therapeutic visits to people in need during a pandemic? As you know, HIP Therapy Teams typically visit in-person at partnering facilities bringing comfort and joy to all the patients, students, and elderly they meet. However, COVID-19 has made it unsafe to come in close contact with others, so changes needed to be made. Thanks to your unwavering support during these challenging times, Therapy Teams are now visiting virtually!

With your help, Therapy Teams have adapted and are able to facilitate beneficial HIP programs such as Sit, Stay, Read! and Petscription via Zoom (or as some petlovers call it, “having a Zoomie”). While the clients are unable to pet the therapy animals like on a normal visit, just interacting with the teams and seeing the animals on screen has proven valuable.

Pictured: Virtual Visit at the UAB Hospital COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit

Wendy Walters, UAB Hospital’s Clinical Ethics Consultant, explains the impact of their weekly virtual visits in the COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit,

I have a tremendous amount of concern for our frontline caregivers. I am trying to find ways to bring smiles to their faces, even for just a moment. The dogs are one way to do that. The staff were so excited, they just wanted to come and pet the screen.

With some creativity, Therapy Teams are able to do more than just talk with clients virtually on their “zoomies.” During virtual Sit, Stay, Read! visits, children can practice their reading skills by reading aloud to a nonjudgmental furry friend online. These visits are especially important right now as schools are also having to adapt their teaching methods.

Ava was very hesitant to read aloud, but after just six weeks of reading to a team with a dog, all she wants to do now is read to everyone! She’s become a proud and confident reader,

says Stacey Roudebush, HIP Volunteer Coordinator and mother.

You are making a difference! Pictured: Virtual Bingo at The Exceptional Foundation

Therapy Teams are also able to facilitate virtual Animal-Assisted Activities such as Bingo! These visits provide some much-needed stress relief and fun to kids and the elderly. HIP Therapy Teams have played Bingo with Children’s of Alabama over their CCTV network, as well as with The Exceptional Foundation.

Our participants love Bingo and this was ‘Bingo with a kick’,” says Del Wright, Volunteer Coordinator at The Exceptional Foundation. “Every card Stephanie held up was an opportunity to talk about different dog breeds and things related to dogs. It was an excellent activity!

While this season of life has been challenging for everyone, we are extremely grateful because it has shown us that no matter what, you, our donors and volunteers, will always have our back. No matter the challenge or crisis, you will be there to help Hand in Paw overcome any obstacle.

We certainly look forward to the day we can make in-person visits again, but we are also excited about continuing to adapt and provide meaningful services in this new way to more and more people and facilities. THANK YOU.