Maggie Helps Her Homeless Friends

Maggie is Cindy Clark’s (BRMH Volunteer Services Manager) black lab mix and serves as one of the hospital’s Volunteer Pet Therapy dogs. Maggie was formerly a shelter dog that has a wonderful calm personality. Maggie and Cindy received certification and went on to register as a Therapy Dog Team last May.

As Maggie and Cindy are making their rounds to patients and staff at Black River Memorial Hospital, everyone asks if Maggie can have a treat. According to Therapy Dogs International and Canine Good Citizens guidelines, Maggie can have lots of love, hugs and petting, but no treats. 

The staff appreciates the pet therapy as much as the patients do. Sherry Skogstad, BRMH Fiscal Services, said, “I’m going to bring Maggie treats for you to give her at home.”  This comment brought the Volunteer Services Department to hold their first “Maggie Drive”, visiting staff throughout the hospital one day a week during this holiday season.  The goal of the “Maggie Drive” was to collect items to donate to the Jackson County Humane Society to help Maggie’s homeless friends.

The end result was a carload of donations to the Jackson County Humane Society including 65 pounds of dog food; 18 pounds of cat food; 17 toys, chewies and bags or boxes of treats; a bag of hand sanitizers; a dog brush; and a big bag of litter. Considering the shelter has many other basic operating needs, such as cleaning supplies, Maggie also took up cash donations totaling $337.50.

Some people were not sure if Maggie enjoyed wearing her lighted reindeer antlers and jingling bell collar while she was collecting, but being a fellow shelter dog, it seemed she felt it was the least she could do to show appreciation for her forever home and her new life.