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here are moments in hospice care when a quiet presence becomes more powerful than conversation. A dog settling beside a patient or resting its head on someone’s knee can shift the atmosphere in a way nothing else can. That sense of calm is at the center of Bonner General Community Hospice’s Volunteer Therapy Dog Program. After a pause during the Covid years, the program has been carefully rebuilt. It is now growing with renewed purpose and a clear understanding of how meaningful this work is for patients, families, and caregivers.

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​When the program was reinstated, it was modeled after Partners in Care in Central Oregon, an organization known for its strong therapy dog network. The structure made sense for Bonner General Community Hospice, which had long seen how comforting animals can be in stressful or emotional moments. Program lead Lynne Slauson explains it simply. “We have seen tremendous peace and joy, the impact animals have had for our clients, their families, and for our children at our annual Kids Grief Camps.” The decision to bring therapy dogs back was driven by experience rather than theory. Staff and volunteers already knew what dogs could do for those navigating end of life.