Lisa volunteered at Care Dimensions' Kaplan Family Hospice House in Danvers, sharing her beloved dog Chloe with patients.

Chloe the Therapy Dog, a Remembrance

It’s a magical moment when a dog finds a way to a hospice patient’s heart. The charisma of Care Dimensions’ volunteer therapy dogs has been known to elicit smiles from many and even words from those who haven’t spoken in a long time due to their illnesses.

The team of Lisa Corbett and Chloe did so much for so many patients for so long. But on Aug. 18, 2021, Chloe passed away at the tender age of 9. “Her body was tired and she couldn’t fight the cancer anymore,” Lisa said. “My heart is shattered. I truly appreciate all the love and support the Care Dimensions team has given us over the years. It gives me so much comfort knowing how much you all cared for our girl.”

Lisa Corbett’s time as a loving caregiver to her uncle prepared her to become a dedicated volunteer for Care Dimensions. “I always wanted to volunteer. After my uncle was diagnosed with terminal cancer he had in-home care from Care Dimensions and I became one of his primary caregivers. When I brought Chloe to visit with him, his face lit up as soon as we arrived. I knew how important her visits were to him.”

Lisa decided to investigate volunteering at Care Dimensions and share her beloved dog with the patients at the Kaplan Family Hospice House in Danvers. After going through the therapy dog certification process, Chloe was ready. The team applied and were accepted in the program.

“Volunteering with your pet is an incredibly rewarding experience that is good for your soul and does not require a lot of time,” says Lisa, a manager at a pharmacy benefit management company. “It’s every bit as rewarding for the volunteers and the dogs as it is for the patients.”

Chloe made a big impression on patients but also on the staff, who were grateful for her visits.

Fran Clements, volunteer coordinator, prepared Chloe’s list of patients on the days she visited. “Chloe was ready as soon as the harness was on,” Fran says. “She walked through the halls and greeted everyone she encountered – chaplains, nurses at the nurses’ station, doctors – they all need attention. There was never a ‘no.’”

“I recommend volunteering 100 percent – the experience is so gratifying,” Lisa says. “The staff at Care Dimensions is a great crew to work with. Chloe and I were helpful distractions for people during difficult times in their lives, and we brought them unconditional love and puppy hugs. I learned significant life lessons about relating to patients and having meaningful conversations in such a positive way. It was fulfilling for me and something I carry with me to this day.”

Care Dimensions seeks volunteers with dogs who either are certified in pet therapy or have passed the Canine Good Citizen™ program, a two-part course designed by the American Kennel Club to help owners and their dogs master 10 basic skills that instill confidence, good manners and obedience.

“After you and your dog successfully complete training, you can apply to volunteer at Care Dimensions,” said Sheryl Meehan, director of volunteer services and complementary therapies. “You decide on the hours you and your dog can give. A volunteer brightens everybody’s day. A volunteer with their dog, priceless.”

Volunteers and their dogs visit hospice patients wherever they call home: nursing homes, assisted living facilities, private homes and our hospice houses in Danvers and in Lincoln on the Waltham line.

Click here for the 2022 training calendar and the application to volunteer. If you are interested in learning more or know someone with a certified pet therapy dog, please email Sheryl at [email protected] or call 888-283-1722.

Note: Lisa just adopted a new puppy, Penny, who will be starting obedience
training soon in preparation for her pet therapy volunteer career. She has big paws to fill! 

About the author

Robin Ellington is a Care Dimensions Communications Specialist.