There’s nothing like the unconditional love of a dog. A wagging tail or a “kiss” on the cheek can make the toughest problems melt away, even if just for a moment.

Aultman offers the Happy Tails program that enables specially trained dogs and their handlers to bring comfort and happiness to Aultman patients, visitors and staff. Carol Scarpino, a beloved Aultman operating room nurse who passed away in 2010, helped Aultman Volunteer Services establish Happy Tails more than a decade ago.

Mary Ann Lutz has been a Happy Tails volunteer for more than three years. “My 7-year-old dog, Bentley, thinks the attention is all about him,” she joked. “I’m a Happy Tails volunteer because I like to make people smile. Bentley and I always go to the cancer center waiting rooms. People are often waiting there for quite a while, so it’s nice for Bentley to bring joy to the patients, visitors and staff members.”

Bentley and Mary Ann (pictured above) also stroll through the main hospital and Bedford lobbies as well as the surgery waiting room. “A lot of people don’t know that you can request a Happy Tails visit for a specific area or patient room,” Mary Ann shared. “Just call the Volunteer Services office to arrange for a Happy Tails visit.”

In 2015, the Happy Tails teams logged more than 1,000 total hours of service. “It takes effort to be in the Happy Tails program, not only the initial evaluation but making sure your dog is bathed and well-groomed each time you volunteer,” said Volunteer Services Coordinator Lee Kenny. “We appreciate our Happy Tails volunteers for their dedication to making people happy. Whenever there’s a crowd in the lobby, you can bet there’s a Happy Tails team in the center of it.”

If you’re interested in becoming a Happy Tails volunteer, click here to learn more. If you’d like to make a donation, The Aultman Foundation created a fund to support our Happy Tails program. Click here to donate online, and click “Happy Tails Program” in the Designation drop-down list.

Thanks to all of our current Happy Tails teams for spreading joy throughout Aultman Health Foundation:

• Carol Angello and Babe
• Sherry Augustine and Spencer
• Margaret DeVault and Molly
• Sylvia Dillenback and Winston
• Dave Eichelberger and Honey boo boo
• Harry Ellis and Bailey
• Barb Gwynne and Abbi
• Danette Hilton and Sophie and Lily
• Barb Huff-Burch and George
• Sue Louscher and Bubs
• Mary Ann Lutz and Bentley
• Jeff Lyons and Mowgli
• Pat Metzger and Kahia
• Deb Petroff and Brutus
• Doug Price and Lilli
• Randy Rich and Ritchie
• Bonnie Roden and Cimba
• Dee Salla and Brody
• Keith Schilstra and Tripster
• Sam Szal and Jazz
• Sandy Warder and Harley