BUFFALO, NY – Patients and their families at Roswell Park Cancer Institute (RPCI) will be introduced to Monty, an eight year-old pet therapy dog, Tuesday, January 17 from 10 – 11 am, in the hospital atrium, Elm & Carlton Streets, Buffalo.            

Monty and his handler, Nicole Gerber, PhD, Development Research Manager, RPCI, have been volunteering their services for more than four years at other locations. The English setter is a certified therapy dog who has passed the American Kennel Club Canine Good Citizen Test and the Therapy Dog Temperament Evaluation. He is a member of Therapy Dogs International, Inc.

“Monty’s experience as a therapy dog make him an excellent choice to initiate the program at Roswell Park,” said Dr. Gerber.

The Pet Therapy Program, hosted by the Volunteer Services Office, RPCI, will be available to patients and their families on Tuesdays. Pet therapy visits will be coordinated with appropriate medical staff that will determine which patients may participate in the program.

“Animal-assisted therapy has a long history, with one of the first programs, still in existence, developed in Belgium in the ninth century,” noted Michael Zevon, PhD, Chair of the Department of Psychosocial Oncology, RPCI. “A number of more recent studies have shown the benefits associated with contact with companion animals in terms of both overall patient health and adjustment.”

Dr. Zevon continued, “Trained and temperament-tested animals can provide physical contact, comfort and security, often reducing feeling of stress and loneliness in patients. The Pet Therapy Program is a therapeutic innovation designed to ensure patients receive the comprehensive cancer care characteristic of Roswell Park.”

“The Volunteer Office is pleased to offer this new service to its patients and their families,” said Susan Siegel, Director of Volunteer Services, RPCI. “Patients undergoing medical treatment for an illness can benefit from supplemental programs that enhance emotional and physical healing.”

 Roswell Park Cancer Institute, founded in 1898, is the nation’s first cancer research, treatment and education center and is the only National Cancer Institute- designated comprehensive cancer center in Upstate New York. RPCI is a member of the prestigious National Comprehensive Cancer Network, an alliance of the nation’s leading cancer centers. For more information, visit the RPCI website at www.roswellpark.org, call 1-877-ASK-RPCI (1-877-275-7724) or e-mail askrpci@roswellpark.org.

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