Compassionate Care. Exceptional Services.
HEALTH GUIDE
lower anxiety” in emergency department patients compared to those who received usual care. That’s something Dr. Brad Green, medical director of Exceptional Community Hospital, said he appreciates about Hope and Honey visiting the hospital. “There’s sometimes long waits in the emergency room or when you’ve been admitted to the hospital for a couple of days,” he said. “Suddenly these two adorable dogs come in with their great owners, and it just perks the patients up.” How to make a therapy dog Both dogs had to go through rigorous therapy training before
Healey, a Homestead resident, thought Hope would be the perfect therapy dog due to her calm temperament and being a fast learner. She put her in training right away and Honey followed. The mother-daughter duo has been working since February 2025. “When they see each other, they’re all kisses, but then they buckle down and work,” Griffin added. In addition to the reading sessions on Wednesday afternoons, the pair also work at Exceptional Community Hospital twice a week to greet
their job is less about teaching children to read and more about creating a calm, encouraging audience. “The kids don’t judge and the dogs don’t judge the kids,” said Honey’s handler, Marykay Griffin, who lives in Maricopa Meadows. “And the dogs don’t care if they even read the words; they can make the story up as they go.”
Mother-daughter working duo
Hope’s handler, Sheila Healey
Griffin and her friend, Sheila Healy, have had their therapy dogs for about two years. They also happen to be a mother- daughter duo: Honey is 4 years old and is the mother of 2-year- old Hope.
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Research shows the calming effect has proven benefits. A 2019 clinical trial showed just 15 minutes of dog exposure was associated with “significantly
patients, bring cheer and, once again, create a calm environment.
PATIENT TESTIMONIAL
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Contact CAA at 520-836-2758 or 1-800-293-9393.
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InMaricopa.com | October 2026
October 2026 | InMaricopa.com
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