July 25, 2006

Verizon donates $750 to VCU's MCV Foundation

Gift to help support Dogs on Call program

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By Malorie Burkett

Sandy Barker, Ph.D., director of VCU’s Center for Human Animal Interaction, poses proudly with Reilly, an Irish Setter who along with his owner, Michael Kallighan (not pictured), has been visiting patients at the VCU Medical Center as part of the VCUMC Dogs on Call program. Photo by Malorie Janis, University News Services
Sandy Barker, Ph.D., director of VCU’s Center for Human Animal Interaction, poses proudly with Reilly, an Irish Setter who along with his owner, Michael Kallighan (not pictured), has been visiting patients at the VCU Medical Center as part of the VCUMC Dogs on Call program. Photo by Malorie Janis, University News Services

Verizon recently donated $750 to the Medical College of Virginia Foundation to help support the Dogs on Call (DOC) program, which enhances the well being of patients and staff with in-hospital visits by trained and certified dog-handler teams from the community.

Michael Kallighan, a firewall specialist with Verizon, along with his 6-year-old Irish Setter, Reilly, presented the gift to Sandra Barker, Ph.D., professor of psychiatry and director of the VCU Center for Human Animal Interaction, which coordinates the DOC program.

This is the second donation Verizon has given to support Dogs on Call, in recognition of Kallighan's volunteer service.

According to Barker, the gifts will be used to help support the Dogs on Call Program, where funds are needed to help the program certify and recertify therapy dogs, coordinate dog visits, monitor credentialing and re-credentialing of DOC teams and provide support products such as clean up bags, dog treats and water bowls.

"Volunteers like Mike and Reilly are the heart of the Dogs on Call program," Barker said. "Dogs on Call volunteers are admired and appreciated for the generous sharing of their time and their wonderfully trained dogs to brighten the days of our patients and staff."

Kallighan and Reilly, who is certified by the Delta Society Pet Partners Program, visit the VCU Medical Center twice a month and during holidays. The Delta Society is an internationally recognized therapy dog certification program that prepares volunteer owners to provide pet visitation and animal-assisted therapy in healthcare facilities.

"This is the most rewarding thing I have ever done," said Kallighan. "If I could make a living out of doing this, I would.

Kallighan also says that Reilly particularly enjoys visiting the children in the pediatrics unit.

"Our research shows the reduced anxiety, fear and stress associated with these visits," said Barker. "Simply shadowing Reilly around the pediatric unit makes these results visible in the smiles, hugs and laughter of our hospitalized children."

For more information on the Dogs on Call program, or for information about volunteer opportunities, visit http://www.chai.vcu.edu/.