What is Paws for Patients?
Paws for Patients offers dog therapy sessions to anyone in need, through virtual appointments with patients around the world, as well as local visits in the community.
Donations made in honor of this volunteer service support the operations of several essential programs within Osborne Head and Neck Foundation (OHNF).
About Therapy Animals
Interaction with therapy animals in medical settings has been correlated with the following effects, impacting people across all age ranges:
- Decreased perceptions of pain
- Improved recovery rates
- Decreased anxiety and stress
- Less fear and worry in patients
- Improved biobehavioral markers of stress
What is Osborne Head & Neck Foundation?
OHNF is a medical nonprofit providing life-saving ear, nose, and throat surgical care for families in need both domestically and around the world.
We believe access to patient services and a network of compassionate medical professionals is a human right, no matter who you are or where you live.
How Can I make A difference?
Currently the Paws for Patients program is raising funds to support the OHNF in building a medical community center to provide surgical and medical care for local and international patients in need.
Who Are Laney and Aimee?
My name is Aimee and this is Laney. The Paws for Patients program was my dream and I am so proud of the work we have done.
I am the owner and handler of our therapy dog Laney. Laney is an AKC Canine Good Citizen and is a registered therapy dog with Pet Partners, the largest animal therapy registry organization in the country.
I got into animal therapy shortly after my dog of 15 years, Spike, passed away in 2017. I have always had a passion for helping people and wanted to give back.
Meet Laney, CGC
Laney is a registered therapy dog and a Paws for Patients volunteer. She is the sweetest golden retriever you will ever meet and she might be one of the smartest too. In her free time, Laney enjoys learning new tricks, agility training, and taking photos. Laney is calm and intuitive to the needs of people around her, and makes the perfect companion.
schedule Your appointment with Laney
Virtual visit & therapy
All ages welcome
Read with Laney
Teachers & student classes
Corporate team building
Thank you for supporting this important work!
🐾 Paws for Patients in the Media 🐾
🐾 Aimee & Laney’s Story 🐾
From the beginning, I could see that Laney had a calm, patient, and fun-loving temperament which made her an excellent dog for animal therapy.
Laney started obedience training from a very young age. What I realized early on, was that she had a natural ability to seek people out that needed her. She is a very caring and loving dog who loves people, so we embarked in therapy dog training. I truly believe she was destined to do this type of work.
Laney has undergone advance obedience training and passed the AKC Canine Good Citizen test at 7 months old.
Having volunteered in the past at the Osborne Head and Neck Foundation, I thought it would be amazing opportunity to bring a program like animal therapy to the organization.
The Paws for Patients program was launched in March 2019 to provide comfort and care to our patients as well as to raise awareness for mental health.
It is through our animal therapy program, we are able to build connections and improve lives within the community.
Therapy animals provide physical, psychological, and emotional benefits to those they interact with in facility settings such as healthcare, assisted living, and schools. These pets are evaluated on their ability to safely interact with a wide range of populations, and their handlers are trained in best practices to ensure effective interactions that support animal welfare.
Due to COVID-19, the program quickly evolved from what was originally meant to be an in-person experience into an online outlet for those at home needing a dose of happiness during these challenging times.
Laney has always been a natural on camera so transitioning into the virtual world became an easy fit for her.
It’s been an amazing opportunity for Laney and me. Not only have we been able to help people in-person, but we have been able to visit people of all ages virtually all around the world.
I am so glad you found Laney’s sessions interesting and would like to get to know her, she’s an amazing dog and I have no doubts she will brighten your day. We both love what we do, so we volunteer our time both in-person and virtually. It is through donations from people and organizations like you that we can make the Paws for Patients program at the Osborne Head and Neck Foundation possible.
Best Regards,
Aimee & Laney