West Tennessee Healthcare Expands Dog Therapy Program to Henry County Hospital

PARIS — West Tennessee Healthcare (WTH) is expanding its Dog Therapy Program to Henry County Hospital in Paris, bringing the benefits of animal-assisted therapy to more patients in the region.

The program, which has already made a significant impact on Jackson, TN, will introduce trained therapy dogs to the hospital environment, offering emotional support and stress relief to patients, visitors, and healthcare workers.

“We’re thrilled to bring this heartwarming program to Henry County Hospital,” said Amanda Smiles, Director of Marketing and Public Relations for WTH. “Pet therapy has been shown to reduce stress and improve overall well-being, and we look forward to seeing the positive impact on our community.”

The first therapy dog team is expected to begin visits later this spring, once the dedicated handler and their canine companion complete certification through the Alliance of Therapy Dogs (ATD) and Volunteer Services at WTH.

For those interested in volunteering as a therapy dog team, applications are now open through WTH’s Volunteer Services Department.