Paws, Purpose, & Partnership
May 8, 2025 | Events, General, Health & Wellness
At Kline Galland, we believe that exceptional care goes beyond medical support—it includes moments of connection, joy, and companionship. Our beloved program, Pet Pals, brings smiles, comfort, and even measurable health benefits to our residents through the loving presence of animals. Whether it’s the gentle wag of a tail or the soothing ears of bunny rabbits, these interactions create meaningful experiences that enrich daily life.
More than “puppy love”
Decades of research support the physical and emotional benefits of interacting with animals. People with pets have significantly lower heart rate and blood pressure levels, and are more likely to be physically active, less prone to obesity, and more likely to survive a cardiac event. The American Heart Association even issued a statement that pet ownership (particularly dogs) reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease. There’s also evidence that petting a dog for just 10-15 minutes reduces the stress hormone cortisol while increasing oxytocin, the feel-good bonding hormone.
Pet therapy captures all of these benefits, and for seniors in particular, it can:
- Reduce feelings of loneliness and isolation by facilitating socialization and creating a deeper feeling of belonging and sharing
- Ease behavioral and stress disorders, like agitation, aggression, anxiety, apathy, and depression.
- Improve cognitive function, includingmemory recall and verbal skills in individuals with dementia.
- Boost quality of life through both playing with animals and taking care of them.
In short, animals offer not just joy—they offer health.
The Pet Pals program
At Kline Galland, the Pet Pals program is more than just visits from friendly animals—it’s a structured, resident-focused initiative designed to bring comfort, spark memories, and foster connection. Whether it’s cuddling with a lap bunny, scratching a dog’s chin, or reminiscing about past pets, these experiences promote:
- Emotional bonding, especially helpful for residents who may be nonverbal or experiencing memory challenges.
- A sense of routine and anticipation, which supports mental well-being.
- Community spirit, as residents often gather and socialize during Pet Pals visits.
Through this program, trained volunteers and their certified therapy animals make regular visits to Kline Galland Home, The Summit, and Benaroya Community Services locations. These visits are carefully planned and guided, ensuring every interaction is positive, safe, and meaningful for each participant.
“When you sit and you pet a little animal that’s so docile, it creates such a comforting feeling for you,” said Vera Kantor, resident of the Mary Schwartz Summit. Vera says that the Pet Pals program is one of the many reasons she loves living at Mary Schwartz Summit. Said Vera, “We have amazing activities that are created by all the people that work here to keep us occupied, entertained, happy, and just experience all kinds of things that we probably wouldn’t do on our own at this stage in our lives, so we are very grateful.”
A call to kindness
The magic of Pet Pals is only possible with the generous support of donors like you. This year, proceeds from our Mother’s Day Celebration will go directly to funding and expanding the Pet Pals program—bringing even more joy to the seniors we serve.
To support Pet Pals and make a difference in the lives of our residents, please donate here or contact:
Nate Nusbaum, Chief Philanthropy Officer
Kline Galland
NateN@KlineGalland.org
(206) 456-9702
To paraphrase a famous quote, “Pets are not our whole life, but they make our lives whole.”
We are pleased to share that KIRO7 covered a recent Pet Pals event at the Mary Schwartz Summit as part of the Around The Sound segment. View the clip here.
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Sources: Psychosomatic Medicine; Frontiers in Psychology; AHA; NPR; Institute for Healthcare Policy and Aging; American Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease & Other Dementias®; Acta Biomedica;
