My Best Friend Dog Training, LLC is a proud supporter of the Saint Barnabas Health Care System Hospice and Palliative Care Center's (SBHPCC) "Paws for Patients" program.

"Paws for Patients" is a volunteer program through the Saint Barnabas Health Care System Hospice and Palliative Care Center.

This program is organized of a group of volunteer pet owners and their pet therapy dogs who visit patients in hospice care. "The therapeutic use of dogs in health care settings has been proven to help them orient patients, especially those with dementia to the present moment," explains Lorriane Sciara, FACHE, Executive Director, SBHPCC, "Dogs increase relaxation, reduce feelings of isolation and even lower blood pressure in patients. We are pleased to be able to offer this wonderful new program to our patients and families," Sciara added.

"In my personal experience I can see how my two dogs enhance the life of my own husband who suffers from secondary progressive Multiple Sclerosis. Unable to work, often losing the ability to use his hands and legs, and now most of his eyesight, my two dogs make him laugh, make him feel less lonely during the day when I'm not there and provide a level of comfort to him that these "best friends" offer willingly and ask for nothing in return."  --- Karen Fazio, Owner, My Best Friend Dog Training, LLC.

For the Month of May, 2010 I devoted my entire talk show and column at NJ.com/pets to the "Paws for Patients" program in a series entitled "Pets Improving Lives."

Please join us and learn how your pet dog may be helping to extend your life by reducing stress, reducing blood pressure, promoting calmness and help your brain to release endorphines (feel-good hormone) simply by making you smile! Even those who don't have dogs can benefit from the series.

If you have a well-behaved pet dog you feel may qualify for the pet therapy  program, he or she could become a candidate for the Bright and Beautiful Therapy Dogs, Inc., program who helps to train your dog to become a comfort-therapy dog.

If you wish to help sponsor the SBHPCC "Paws for Patients" program your tax deductible donation can help improve the lives of critically ill patients who could benefit greatly from spending time with man's best friend. Click here to download tax deductible donation form.

For information on how to qualify for the the pet therapy dog program, call 973-322-4866 or email sballas@sbhcs.com