Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Highlands Health and Rehab Center offers therapy dog
BELLA VISTA — Highlands Health and Rehabilitation Center in Bella Vista is in the process of training a therapy dog. Charlie, a 4-month-old Sheepadoodle, is currently undergoing 16 weeks of therapy training.
Taylor Bogle, Charlie’s owner and director of rehabilitation and physical therapy assistant at the facility, said Charlie goes to work with him for half a day every day, interacting with residents, staff members and “hanging out” in the therapy room. When the training is completed, Charlie will be an official therapy dog for the center, with the goal of offering companionship and more positivity to the days of residents and staff alike.
“His role would be companionship and being a light in people’s days,” Bogle said. “He won’t be considered a service dog; his role is to be there, to give residents comfort, to give them something to do, and something to interact with.”
Bogle said residents and staff can currently hold and pet Charlie, and many residents are showing a change in demeanor when Charlie is visiting.
“I get a very, ‘Oh, therapy again’ kind of reaction [from residents], but when I have Charlie, everyone is much more positive,” he said. “Especially with the people that really do enjoy dogs, that have their own dogs but haven’t been able to see them for a while because they’re in our facility — I notice an immediate mood change. It’s a much more positive reaction.”
Bogle said he’s researched the impacts of having a dog like Charlie in the facility, noting he’s hoping to achieve some of the positive effects such as an improvement in mood, a decrease in blood pressure, an increase in cognitive simulation and decreased stress levels. He said residents are more accepting and willing to do therapy with him when Charlie is present.
Bogle said Charlie is a unique presence at the facility, noting therapy dogs in rehabilitation centers are somewhat uncommon.
“The only other place I know of that has a dog that stays at the facility during the day — there’s only one other in the area — is in Centerton, called Apple Creek,” he said. “That’s actually where I got the idea from. I did some work there, and they have a dog that roams the facility kind of like I’m hoping Charlie will be able to do.”
Bogle said his ultimate goal is to have Charlie with him at the facility as much as possible, becoming a part of the Highlands family.
“Eventually, when he’s gone through his classes, I want him to just be comfortable going through the facility and letting residents and staff interact with him as they see fit and as he lets them,” he said.