Pet therapy is one rewarding way to support patients and families in our care, among many other volunteer opportunities. Volunteer Tara Fulker and her sweet pup Scout have left soft spots (or paw prints) on the hearts of many patients and families.

“Scout does a great job working with the Hospice patients because I lift her up on their bed and she just lays there and allows them to pet her,” Tara said.  “The family members who are waiting love to have her sit on their lap and she always gives licks and kisses.”

Tara knew Scout had the heart for hospice after recommendation from an obedience instructor.

“We decided to do pet therapy because during one of her obedience classes, an instructor told me she would be a good therapy animal,” Tara said. “After thinking about it for a while, I decided I wanted to incorporate my volunteer work with Hospice that I was already doing.”

As she may be gentle, Scout also has quirky personality traits. She sleeps on her back with all four legs sticking in the air, loves to eat cooked sweet potatoes and has “two speeds: sleeping and running,” as explained by Tara.

“She loves to run off leash at the nature preserve and any empty field I can find.  Her arch enemy is any squirrel or chipmunk that dares pass into our backyard,” Tara said.

We thank Tara and Scout for the kindness and compassion they share with patients and families at Ohio’s Hospice of Miami County.

If you are interested in being a volunteer, please fill out a volunteer application and contact Volunteer Coordinator Krissy McKim-Barker at 937-573-2115 or kmckimbarker@ohioshospice.org.