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Medical Center Hospital Caring Paws Program is the first hospital animal-assisted visitation volunteer service program in the Permian Basin.  Caring Paws Teams are made up of handlers and their canine friends who visit eligible patients at Medical Center Hospital.  

Mission
To provide patients of all ages a hands-on interaction with evaluated and authorized canines of the Medical Center Hospital Caring Paws Program. Caring Paws Teams bring warmth, smiles, education to patients in a positive, nurturing health care environment.

Caring Paws Teams
Is a group of devoted local volunteers who team up with their dogs to visit eligible MCH patients as needed and requested.

Caring Teams consist of:

• Margaret Street with Golden Retriever, Nessie
• Josie Gans with Golden Retriever, Gromit and Nessie
• Betty Schmid with Pointer, Blue and Cattle Dog, Reno
• Jeanne Nichols with Shih-Tzu, Sushi
• Glenna Williamsson with Mandy
• Irene Becker with Abbe

How is Patient Selected?
The patient will always be the ultimate decision maker on whether or not he/she wants to be visited by Caring Paws Team.

Patients who do not have the following symptoms are eligible for Pet Visitation.

• Open or draining wounds
• Communicable or contagious disease
• Animal allergies

Underwriting
Medical Center Hospital Auxiliary generously donated $2,400.00 to help launch the first Caring Paws Program in the Permian Basin.

To Contact Us
If you would like to volunteer to be on a team or would like to have your canine friend evaluated and assessed to determine whether or not they meet eligibility for Caring Paws Program, call Volunteer Services Department, 640-2243.