CHRISTUS Health welcomes new facility dog to Westover Hills campus

CHRISTUS Santa Rosa Hospital – Westover Hills welcomed a new facility dog to the campus today to mark National Therapy Animal Day.

Chaplain Julie Harris and dog chaplain Broadway have joined the CHRISTUS team to provide compassionate and spiritual care to its patients and Associates. National Therapy Animal Day recognizes the exceptional animals that partner with their human companions to bring comfort, joy and healing to those in need.

“Broadway and I are so thrilled to join the CHRISTUS family,” Harris said. “We look forward to connecting with patients, their families and our fellow Associates. This program is aimed to bring some normalcy to our patients while they recover in the hospital.”

Facility dogs serve many roles, including:

• Providing emotional support and comfort to patients and their families to aid in coping with stressors of hospitalization;
• Normalizing the hospital environment;
• Helping patients reach their treatment goals by providing support during procedures and encourage movement;
• Providing support for pain management;
• Providing support to associates to aid in reducing caregiver fatigue and increasing morale; and
• Offering a sense of unconditional love and acceptance.

The new facility dog program was made possible through a generous gift from the John R. and Greli N. Less Charitable Trust. The John R. and Greli N. Less Charitable Trust was established through Greli Less’s will in 2019, with Frost Bank.

“Among other areas, the trust funds charities that provide for the health, care and comfort to those in need, as well as animal welfare and animal education,” said Melissa J. Adams, Frost senior vice president of philanthropic programs. “As a trustee, Frost recognized a wonderful alignment between these values and the facility dog program at CHRISTUS Santa Rosa Health System.”

Harris and facility dog Broadway have joined the hospital full-time and are already offering companionship to those in need.

“It is a joy to see the smiles we’re able to bring,” Harris said. “We hope to bring them peace during what can be an uncertain time.”