Meet Nova, Stevenson Memorial Hospital’s new therapy dog. The Alliston hospital has reintroduced their therapy dog program in partnership with St. John Ambulance of York Simcoe Muskoka. Nova’s handler Estrela Tranquada said Nova has already become a regular part of the day-to-day life at the hospital. “A lot of people know her name already, which is nice to see. They see her coming and with the staff,” said Tranquada. “And there’s always patients and people going through the hallways, and they’re always happy to see a furry little buddy.” Stefanie Voss-Campo, regional manager for York Simcoe Muskoka St. John Ambulance, said the program helps more than just patients. “It certainly does a lot, not only for patients but also for students and families of residents of multiple different facilities,” said Voss-Campo. “Certainly, it provides comfort and provides joy, and it provides companionship, sometimes even conversation.” Nova spends her afternoons walking the halls and greeting everyone and is up for anything. “We walk around a little bit, interrupt a few people just to say hello, and they’re happy to see her. There are patients that are waiting in the waiting room; there’s patients waiting to be seen, so it’s a bit of a distraction for them,” said Tranquada. “I think it’s important to kind of change it for a little bit for them and usually there’s a smile attached to that.” Crystal Irvin, manager of inpatient medicine, said Nova can provide a few minutes of comfort when it is needed the most. “People don’t get to see their pets, and that might be one thing they are really missing, and Nova might not be their own, but she’s a surrogate for a period of time and they just love to spend time with her,” said Irvin. The perfect companion when times are tough or just need a little break from ordinary life at the hospital. “What isn’t there to like about a dog? Something that’s fluffy, that’s cozy, that soft to pet. And typically, when people do approach a therapy dog, of course, they’re working, so they know that they’re going to be approached and be able to provide comfort,” said Voss-Campo. Patients are not the only ones benefiting from Nova; Tranquada herself has seen Nova come out of her shell even more than before. “I found this has made a huge difference for her. She’s very interactive. She sees people walking around even in day-to-day life, and she wants to approach them. We can see that she appreciates meeting people and being with them,” said Tranquada.
