A mother-daughter pair of golden retrievers is making regular rounds in Maricopa, visiting hospitals, police and fire stations, libraries and other community spaces to comfort people and lift spirits, according to InMaricopa.
The dogs, Honey and Hope, are owned and cared for by Marykay Griffin and Sheila Healy. Honey is 4 years old and is Hope’s 2-year-old mother.
At Exceptional Community Hospital, the therapy dogs visit patients twice a week on Mondays and Fridays. They also stop by the library every Wednesday during children’s reading hour.
Dr. Brad Green, medical director at the hospital, told InMaricopa that the dogs can make a difference during long emergency room waits or extended hospital stays. The dogs went through seven months of therapy training before being certified and still continue regular training.
According to the article, the pair know commands such as sit, stay and paws up, and Honey was trained to stop barking using a citronella bark collar. Hospital nurse Marissa Jauregui said the dogs bring joy and happiness to patients along with the women who bring them in.
