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Furry Friends

furry friends

Have you considered volunteering with your dog? We always have more requests for visits from patients than our dog/handler teams can provide. There is great information on the Pet Partners website about volunteering. You can also watch their Volunteering with Your Pet video and take their short, fun quiz to find out if you and your pet would make a great Pet Partners Therapy team!

Family Pet and Certified Dog Visitation Programs

Research shows that relationships with animals have a positive influence on health. Interacting with pets can lower blood pressure, reduce stress, decrease loneliness, and enhance feelings of well-being. Furry Friends allows patients to experience the joy of a visiting pet, either their own dog or a dog certified for hospital visits. The program has bought much pleasure to patients since it began in August 2003.

Therapy dog with patient

At University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics and UI Stead Family Children’s Hospital, a family pet may visit a hospitalized family member. Visits are limited to dogs or cats that are at least six months old, in good health, and are well-tempered. The hospital reserves the right to deny pet visitations if the pet is deemed unsuitable for the hospital environment. This program is administered by the nursing staff on approved units.

  • Family Pet Visitation Printable Brochure

Patients at UI Hospitals & Clinics and UI Stead Family Children’s Hospital may wish to have a visit from a specially screened dog. These dogs are tested for good health and temperament. The hospital reserves the right to deny a visit if it is deemed unsuitable for our patient(s). This program is administered by our Rehabilitation Therapies staff on approved units.

  • Certified Dog Visitation Printable Brochure
  • Guidelines for Dog Handlers
  • Dog Handler Application

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        • Medical Achievements
    • Quality and Safety
    • Academic Departments
    • Care Coordination Division/Social Services
      • Advance Directives
      • Care Coordination Division Employment Opportunities
      • Care Coordination Division History
      • Care Coordination Division Patient Medication Assistance Program
      • Care Coordination Division Transportation Assistance and Resources
        • Bus and Shuttle Services
        • Wheelchair Services
      • Clinical Social Work Services
      • Food Assistance and Meal Delivery Programs
      • General Financial Assistance Resources
      • Health Care Benefits Assistance Program (HCBAP)
      • Honoring Your Wishes
      • Oncology Social Work
    • Critical Access Hospital Network
    • Ethics Consult Service
    • Info For... Directory
      • Volunteer Services
        • Become a Volunteer
          • College Student Volunteers
            • College Student Leader Board
            • College Student Volunteer Placement Options
            • Mentor Program
          • Community/Staff Volunteers
          • Special Projects for Volunteers
        • Resources for Current Volunteers
          • Virtual Lunch & Learn Events
          • Volunteer Hours Submission
          • Volunteer Services - Request a Leave of Absence
        • Sponsored Businesses and Featured Programs
          • Furry Friends
            • Certified Dog Visit - Handler Guidelines
        • Volunteer Services Gift Cards
        • Where Does the Volunteer Services Money Go?
      • Donors
        • Donating Through the UI Center for Advancement
        • Donations
          • Frequently Asked Questions: In-Kind Gift Donations
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        • Disaster Preparedness Is For Everyone
        • Ground Safety Education
      • Faculty & Staff
        • Clinical Staff Office
          • Clinical Staff - Verification Requests
        • Procurement Services
        • Tuition Reimbursement
        • Engineering Services
        • Material Services Department
          • Linen Services
          • Mail Services
          • Material Services - Processed Stores
          • Material Services - Shipping and Receiving
          • Uniform Shop
        • University Employee Health Clinic
          • Employee Flu Vaccinations
          • Frequently Asked Questions: University Employee Health Clinic
          • Pre-Employment Screening for Health Care Personnel
          • University of Iowa Employee Health Clinic Confidentiality Policy
          • University of Iowa Health Care Employee Services
            • UI Health Care Pre-Employment Health Screening Instructions
            • Communicable Disease Exposures and Reproductive Hazard Screenings
            • Respirator Fit Testing
            • Evaluation Following Exposure to Human Blood/Body Fluids
            • Special Population Screenings
            • Blood Pressure Monitoring Services for Employees
            • Tuberculosis (TB) Screening
        • Health Professionals
          • Center for Procedural Skills and Simulation (CPSS)
            • Team-Based Simulation Design and Debriefing
          • Provider Resources
        • Web Privacy Policy
      • Partner Businesses
      • Researchers
      • Students and Trainees
        • Graduate Medical Education
    • Virtual Hospitalist Service for Rural Hospitals

Meet Our Furry Friends

Milo

Handler: Joy Miller
Birthday: January 16, 2016
Breed: Medium Goldendoodle
Fun Fact: Milo loves playing with friends and getting petted!

Milo has been a Pet Partners therapy dog since 2018
Furry Friend Milo

Annie

Handler: Peggy McIntire
Birthday: February 25th 2018
Breed: Goldendoodle
Fun Fact: Annie pretends to be asleep when she is getting petted so don’t stop!

Annie has been a Pet Partners therapy dog since 2019!
Furry Friend Annie

Cat

Handler: Karla Laubenthal
Birthday: November 25th 2011
Breed: Mixed breeds
Fun fact: Catalina was named by the children in her first family. They thought it would be funny to have a dog named “Cat”

Cat has been a Pet Partners therapy dog since 2018!
Furry Friend Cat

Sam

Handler: Carol Steffensmeier
Birthday: June 16th 2017
Breed: English Doodle
Fun fact: Sam can fit three toys in his mouth and loves playing fetch!

Sam has been a Pet Partners therapy dog since 2022!
Furry Friend Sam

Ruthie

Handler: Rebecca Porter
Birthday: July 17th 2017
Breed: Golden Retriever
Fun fact: Ruthie does not like swimming, but she likes meeting new friends!

Ruthie has been a Pet Partners therapy dog since 2022!
Furry Friend Ruthie

Skeeter

Handler: Jean Reed
Birthday: July 1st, 2013
Breed: Pomeranian
Fun fact: Skeeter’s name is short for mosquito because she was a little pest when she was a baby, but now she is a sweetheart!

Skeeter has been a Pet Partners therapy dog since 2015!
Furry Friend Skeeter

Murphy

Handler: Kelly O’Connell
Birthday: October 30th, 2017
Breed: Vizla
Fun Fact: Murphy knows his commands in American Sign Language and loves some Cheerios. Murphy also loves being close to people!

Muphy has been a Pet Partners therapy dog since 2022!
Furry Friend Murphy

Taw

Handler: Sherry Mattison
Birthday: January 27th 2020
Breed: Bernedoodle
Fun fact: Taw’s name is from a 1967 John Wayne movie called, “The War Wagon.” John Wayne’s character was Taw Jackson.

Taw has been a Pet Partners therapy dog since 2023!
Furry Friend Taw

Widget

Handler: Jean Reed
Birthday: September 1st, 2017
Breed: Pomeranian
Fun fact: Widget is very athletic and loves to fetch balls, go for walks, and play with her half-sister Skeeter!

Widget has been a Pet Partners therapy dog since 2023!
Furry Friend Widget

Locations and Offices

Volunteer Services

8025 John W. Colloton Pavilion (JCP)
Level 8, Elevator F
1-319-356-2515
[email protected]
Resource Office
Volunteer Services Main Office
In University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics
200 Hawkins Drive, Iowa City, IA 52242

200 Hawkins Drive
Iowa City, IA 52242
United States

1-800-777-8442
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