In celebration of National Pet Therapy Animal Day, CHI Memorial dedicated a bronze sculpture of Sadie, a former pet therapy dog, in honor of all pet therapy dogs that volunteer with their human companions through the hospital’s pet therapy program.
Sadie’s owner and current volunteer, Wayne Gratigny, commissioned local artist Maria Willison to create the bronze sculpture in Sadie’s memory. Wayne and Sadie, a rescued Golden Retriever, restarted CHI Memorial’s pet therapy program in 2012.
“I had seen how my grandson reacted to therapy dogs when he was in another hospital and thought it would be great to have dogs visit patients here,” Mr. Gratigny said. “I had five golden retrievers ... (click for more)