Dogs Bring Healing to Presque Isle Hospital

Presque Isle’s AR Gould Hospital has welcomed a new source of comfort: therapy dogs that visit patients and staff to ease stress and boost recovery. The initiative is part of a growing program that now reaches four hospitals across Maine. Two years ago, the idea began at Eastern Maine Medical Center. It quickly spread to Acadia Hospital in Bangor and locations in Blue Hill and Ellsworth, each time showing that a friendly canine companion can calm nerves and encourage movement. The latest addition to the network is meant to test how well the program works in a more rural setting, where travel and logistics can be challenging. Each team consists of a volunteer and a trained dog. Hospitals ask for visits through an app, making it easy to schedule support whenever patients need a break from routine care. The dogs are not just pets; they are carefully selected for calmness, obedience, and a strong bond with their handler. The handlers themselves must be friendly and able to read people’s needs. One of the program’s leaders, a volunteer named Stacey Coventry, has seen firsthand how dogs can spark movement in patients who struggle with speech or motor skills after a stroke. A simple touch of fur can trigger muscle memory, allowing patients to open their hands or smile again. These moments are described as “magic” because they happen without any medical intervention.Training for the dogs and their owners is offered through a partnership with Bear Brook Kennel. Classes last five weeks, combining online lessons with in‑person coaching. The program currently has about 30 volunteer teams and aims to reach 40 by the end of summer. The goal is to make therapy dogs a regular feature in every Northern Light hospital, no matter how far from the main campus. AR Gould’s director of community outreach, Laura Turner, praised the program for adding comfort beyond standard medical care. She emphasized that patients feel more supported when they receive both clinical treatment and emotional encouragement from a friendly animal. Future plans include experimenting with miniature horses, which are also allowed under the hospital’s animal policy. These animals could offer a different type of interaction and healing, expanding the range of therapeutic options available to patients. Those who want to join the program can reach out to Laura Turner at lturner@northernlight. org for more information.