Dozens of therapy dogs were blessed on Sunday by The Rev. Father Brian King at the Christus St. Patrick Hospital prayer garden.

Kayla Rigney, a volunteer, said the annual event is for pet therapy volunteers and their pets to come together in a faith-filled atmosphere.

“This is a way to bless the dogs’ mission of doing good things for people in the community,” she said. “It’s also a way of blessing the handlers because they are all volunteering their time to help others.” The dogs are all certified through Therapy Dogs Inc. — a national organization that trains dogs to provide pet therapy for local hospitals, nursing homes and even events at libraries.

“We are just people who love our pets and want to share with others,” Rigney said about the Dr. Dogs Pet Therapy group. “We go into situations — especially with elderly people in nursing homes — many of them have had pets in their lives before they had to move in the nursing home. They like to talk about their pets and remember the times they had with their animals.”

She pointed out that it’s been shown through studies that petting a dog can help calm a person and decrease stress.

“The dogs have a very peaceful influence on the people they serve,” she said. “Those who are shut-ins in the hospital — just having a visitor of any sort sometimes is a day brightener. When the dogs come they all seem to enjoy it.”

In physical therapy, the dogs are often used to encourage patients to expand their mobility.

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www.drdogspetherapy.com(Rick Hickman/American Press)