As a member of Therapeutic Paws of Canada, Ivy, an eight-year-old Portuguese Water Dog (or portie, as her breed is affectionately called) knows her job well.
As a member of Therapeutic Paws of Canada, this eight-year-old Portuguese Water Dog knows her job well.
Ivy swaggers onto the Sunnybrook campus accompanied by therapy dog volunteers to treat patients with her own form of medicine three times per week. As a member of Therapeutic Paws of Canada, this eight-year-old Portuguese Water Dog (or portie, as her breed is affectionately called) knows her job well. She makes people happy during some of their most difficult moments.
Ivy has touched the lives of hundreds of patients and residents during the two years she's been at Sunnybrook. Her vast portfolio has her making the rounds in the Palliative Care Unit, in-patient psychiatry and the Veterans Centre.
And as Ivy moves from patient to patient, she'll either intuitively discern what they need or remember from a previous visit. Sometimes, it's just a quiet moment of physical connection. Other patients prefer one of her many tricks, like a double high-five or rolling over.
Therapy dogs have been shown to reduce blood pressure, fatigue, pain and even feelings of stress and anxiety. Her owner, Sarah Alexis, is a strong believer in the power of therapy dogs and the unconditional love they bring to every patient interaction. Sarah Alexis's parents, Nick and Carol, take turns volunteering their time to bring Ivy in for her Sunnybrook shifts.
Becoming a certified therapy dog requires a great temperament and the ability to be sociable with strangers. Ivy grew up in a perfect training ground: a house full of children. She easily passed further formalized testing that evaluated her reactions to the stimuli of the hospital environment.
Porties are also perfect for the health-care setting because they are hypoallergenic. Ivy's thick coat is actually hair, not fur, so she doesn't shed. Knowing this, it's fitting that her favourite reward for performing all those tricks is a fish treat. A diet rich in omega-3s – along with her favourite oatmeal shampoo – keep Ivy's black coat shiny, soft and ready to cocoon a hand in need.
Ivy is a four-legged antidote to the medical realities many patients face. And while she cannot cure, she can definitely be there when it matters most.
This content was produced by The Globe and Mail's advertising department, in consultation with Sunnybrook. The Globe's editorial department was not involved in its creation.