Care Dimensions volunteer Dave Houle relaxes with his pet therapy dog, Dolce, in between patient visits at the Care Dimensions Hospice House in Lincoln, Mass.

‘Sweet’ Pet Therapy Team Brings Joy to Hospice Patients

When is a dog more than a best friend?

For Care Dimensions volunteer Dave Houle, it’s every Monday when he and his eight-year-old dog, Dolce, become a team by making pet therapy visits to hospice patients and families in Greater Boston.

For the past three years, Dolce has been Dave’s teammate who helps make moments special for people nearing the end of their lives. For Dave, who has owned dogs most of his life, the partnership provides a sense of purpose in semi-retirement.

Dogs in Dave’s life

While growing up in Leicester, Mass., Dave had several mixed breed dogs and poodles. After moving to Greater Boston and buying a home, he adopted a stray mixed breed named Popeye, who had been relocated from Puerto Rico.

Working in the field of teaching and learning technologies at North Shore Community College (NSCC), Dave often saw pet therapy dogs accompany students in the library. He thought volunteering with a therapy dog might be a good use of his time when he retired.

Popeye died in 2015. A year later, Dave and his husband, Mike, adopted an eight-week-old beagle- coonhound. They named him Dolce (meaning “sweet” in Italian).

Dolce had a good temperament and Dave figured he’d make an excellent therapy dog. NSCC had an animal care program and Dave worked with a faculty member who helped train Dolce.

Dave retired from full-time work in 2019. Since he had the time and a trained dog, he searched online for Greater Boston senior facilities that might welcome visits from him and Dolce. He called Care Dimensions and learned about an opportunity to do volunteer pet therapy visits at the Care Dimensions Hospice House in Lincoln, Mass., which is a short ride from his home in Arlington.

Hospice volunteer and pet training

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Dave’s hospice volunteer training was put on hold. He completed the program in 2021.

"I didn’t expect there to be the degree of training I had,” recalled Dave. “I was thoroughly informed about what to expect in hospice. I was really impressed by the focus on certain types of patients, such as veterans who saw combat or people who identify as LGBTQ.”

Dolce had completed the American Kennel Club’s Canine Good Citizen training, which Care Dimensions requires of pets that volunteers take on patient visits. In August of 2021, Dave and Dolce began seeing patients at the hospice house every Monday.

Pet therapy visits

When Dave and Dolce arrive at the Care Dimensions Hospice House, Dave checks which patients have requested a pet therapy visit then stops by the nurses’ station to learn how each person is doing. “If they’re up for a visit, I knock on their door and introduce myself and Dolce,” said Dave. “They can pat him and touch his ears and tail. When they’re patting Dolce, I see them relax and take deeper breaths.  I tell them a story about Dolce, and they often tell me about a dog they had as a child or as an adult. It can make a difference in their day. 

“Dolce knows several tricks that he performs by voice commands and hand signals, and people seem to like watching him,” Dave continued. “We may be in the room only five to 10 minutes, but it makes a big impact.”

Dave noted that Care Dimensions staff and hospice house visitors benefit from Dolce’s visits, too.

“One time, I saw a man sitting next to his dad,” Dave recalled. “He saw Dolce and told us to come in. The man just hugged Dolce and cried. All the tears that were meant for his father came out for Dolce. He was able to emote when he hadn’t been able to with his dad.”

Sharing joy

To help spread Dolce’s good nature in the community, Dave and Dolce now see Care Dimensions patients in facilities and homes every other Monday between hospice house visits.

“Recently, Dave asked if he and Dolce could visit a certain facility because they could see three of our patients in one day,” said Jane Corrigan, Care Dimensions senior volunteer coordinator. “Dave does a beautiful job meeting the patients where they are emotionally. He is caring and nurturing – not only to the patients but to Dolce, so that Dolce is comfortable in any environment if he is with Dave.”

“Dolce puts people in a different space for a moment, which is helpful for me to see,” said Dave. “It allows them to focus on something good and happy. That makes me feel great because I’m making a difference in my retirement. And it’s even more pronounced when we go to an assisted living facility. The elevator door opens and there’s 15 people waiting for Dolce. The joy is amplified. I am so proud to have a dog that can do this.”

A dog that is not only Dave’s best friend, but also his teammate in bringing joy to others.

Learn about becoming a hospice volunteer with Care Dimensions.

About the author
Lisa Conti is Senior Marketing Communications Specialist at Care Dimensions and manages its Voices of Care blog.