BARCELONA: In an effort to uplift the spirits of patients in intensive care units (ICUs), a Spanish hospital in Barcelona has initiated a heartwarming program involving therapy dogs.
Joel Bueno couldn’t hold back tears of happiness when therapy dogs Vida and Lu entered the intensive care unit where he was receiving treatment for a blood clot. The 34-year-old expressed how the affection showered upon him by these four-legged visitors reminded him of his beloved dog waiting for him back home.
“It’s an incredible feeling to be loved unconditionally,” Bueno told Reuters, his face beaming with joy. “They give their all for you, no matter what.”
This heartwarming visit was part of a trial initiated by Barcelona’s Hospital del Mar and the Affinity Foundation, a specialist in pet therapy, aimed at enhancing the emotional well-being of ICU patients. Participants in the program receive two weekly visits lasting 15 to 20 minutes each.
Dr. Lucia Picazo, an ICU doctor, expressed optimism about the project’s potential benefits, noting that initial observations suggest positive outcomes for patients. The project aims to scientifically evaluate these benefits by analyzing saliva samples collected before and after therapy sessions to monitor changes in stress indicators like cortisol and well-being-related hormones such as oxytocin and serotonin.
The benefits of the program extend beyond patients, as Maribel Vida, who oversees Affinity’s animal therapy initiatives, noted that many staff members in the emergency ward also appreciate the presence of the therapy dogs and find solace in bonding with them.
