Pet therapy programs can bring light to seniors who are now unable to care for their own pet.

Thanks to a local dog therapy program, the residents of the Long Island State Veterans Home  (LISVH) have felt the joy of connecting with a canine companion for years. 

Chris Catalano brings his dog, Andi, to visit residents at the Long Island State Veterans Home.

Interactions with the dogs have a lasting positive impact on the patients. Benefits can include reduced heart rate, blood pressure and stress and helps with loneliness. The dogs bring comfort to the patients and form long-lasting bonds.

One of the therapy dogs is Andi, a golden retriever/labrador mix. Andi has been making veterans, hospital patients and group home residents smile since 2005. 

Stony Brook University staff member Shelley Catalano and her husband, Chris, started training Andi as a puppy with the Guide Dog Foundation for the Blind. A couple of years later, Andi was trained as a therapy dog.

Eli Sperber , a patient, has been spending time for Andi for several years. “Dogs pep me up. They are a very good medicine for sick people,” said Sperber.

The dog therapy program is a collaboration between The Guide Dog Foundation, Patchogue Rotary Animal Assisted Therapy, and the Stony Brook University School of Social Welfare.