Franciscan Health Munster Environmental Services Associate Diane Sandoval, left, pets Mary Hires’ dog, Molly, during a visit from the Pet Therapy Program earlier this year. (Photo provided, Franciscan Health)
In Lake County, Franciscan Health says its Pet Therapy Program received a $13,000 boost thanks to a donation from the newly established Franciscan Health Foundation Circle of 1875. The all-volunteer Pet Therapy program, with 16 volunteers and 17 dogs, provides visits for interested patients, family members and staff at Franciscan Health’s Crown Point, Dyer, and Munster hospitals as well as the Program for All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly, or PACE, program in Dyer. Pet Therapy Program founder Julie Canady, who is also a handler and trainer, said “They aren’t just dogs, they’re healers.” The Circle of 1875 — named for the year the first Franciscan hospital opened in Lafayette, Indiana — is a women’s giving circle dedicated to supporting Franciscan’s mission and programs in the community. It’s the first year for the organization at the Franciscan Health Foundation of Northern Indiana, and the Pet Therapy Program was the first to benefit.
“Quality healthcare is core to our community and Franciscan Health is an outstanding organization,” said Violet Sistovaris, retired NiSource executive vice president and inaugural member of the Circle of 1875. “When the Circle of 1875 was first introduced, I was attracted to its mission of bringing women together to help further healthcare in NWI. I was sold on the Pet Therapy Program as the Circle’s first recipient when I heard about the compassionate support the animals and their owners provide to patients in need.”
Canady, who is also an administrative assistant for Franciscan Alliance, thanked the Franciscan Health Foundation and Circle of 1875 members for their support, saying she believes the funding can help fuel expansion of the program with the recruitment of additional volunteers. “Their support helps bring comfort, connection and joy to patients, families and staff through the incredible work of our therapy dogs,” Canady said. “Thanks to their generosity, we will be able to provide resources for training, animal care and community outreach, ensuring each visit is a meaningful experience for all involved.” Franciscan Health Foundation Executive Director Rick Peltier echoed Canady’s appreciation for the philanthropic inaugural class of the Circle of 1875, saying the goal is to grow membership in the organization year over year. Donations to the Pet Therapy Program can be made by calling the Franciscan Health Foundation Northern Indiana at (219) 661-3401.
