Strong's PETS Therapy Dogs Show Us Their Best in 2023 Benefit Wall Calendar
Featuring our popular pack of 17 "celebrity" pups, the 2023 edition of our annual Pet Therapy Dog wall calendar makes an adorable addition to the home or office, and proceeds from the sale of each calendar directly benefit patient- and family-centered care initiatives throughout Strong Memorial Hospital.
An Adorable Addition for the Home or Office
These adorable calendars make a great gift for animal-lovers of all ages and are available for just $10.99 at the Friends of Strong Gift Shop located on the first floor of Golisano Children's Hospital.
Can’t make it to the Gift Shop? Call (585) 275-2420 to order a copy shipped anywhere in the contiguous U.S. (a $4.99 shipping and handling fee applies).
"With this sixth edition," hints Luanne Crosby, the Friends of Strong Gift Shop Manager. "Our Pet Therapy calendar fundraiser continues a fun way to welcome the new year and bring an adorable touch of comfort to yours – or a friend's – home or office."
Twenty three years, 66 dogs and countless tail wags later, our ever-popular Pets Engaged in Therapeutic Socialization (PETS) program today consists of more than two dozen certified pet therapy dogs, together with their handlers, bringing joy and happiness to our patients, their families and our staff.
"It is truly wonderful to witness the joy our patients experience when they get to spend a few moments with our wonderful pet therapy dogs," says Dr. Alissa Huston, Medical Oncologist at UR Medicine's Pluta Cancer Center.
The program is beneficial in reducing stress and anxiety, enhancing rehabilitation, and so much more. These popular pups provide a sense of comfort for ruff-ly 65 patients in any given week—easily more than 60,000 visits creating countless smiles among our patients and families throughout the years.
“During their weekly visits to support our patients and families at Pluta, the therapy dogs provide a much appreciated
moment of peace and calming relaxation, not only for our patients and families,” Registered Nurse Laura Kent explains. “But also for us staff members. We all delight in enjoying a face-to-face with our furry friends. It may only be a minute to pet them, but we always feel more relaxed after seeing them.”
“At a time when work and workplaces can be overwhelming, something as simple as petting a soft, friendly and gentle dog really changes your outlook for the day,” adds Nurse Manager Alicia Coffin.
Our pet therapy program is just one of the many ways we at Friends of Strong seek to give back to the hospital and foster exceptional care for everyone. From complimentary safe-sleep swaddles for every baby born at Strong, to Palliative Care Program funding, this past year we were able to provide financial assistance and ongoing support for many patient-centered initiatives and programs throughout the hospital.
Every day. Every year. Every purchase you make at the Friends of Strong Memorial Hospital Gift Shop, Finger Lakes Coffee Roasters at URMC, and
at Friends of Strong fundraising events helps support patient- and family-centered care initiatives throughout UR Medicine’s Strong Memorial Hospital.
With the help of supporters like you, we’ve been able to gift more than $20 million throughout the hospital since 1975.
Matt Ulakovic | 11/15/2022
