Dog volunteer makes paws-itive impact at Palm Springs hospital

With the holiday season officially upon us, it’s only natural we think about giving. But it's not just about buying gifts. Consider giving the gift of time and energy, volunteering to help others. It's extremely rewarding, and there are plenty of outside-the-box ways that you — and even your pet — can bring joy to people.

Volunteers come in all shapes and sizes.

Ernie Banks is my 6-year-old rescue dog. She was named after one of the greatest baseball players of all time, and she and her namesake have a few things in common: His nickname was "Mr. Sunshine," and she has a very sunny disposition as well. She loves being around people, bringing them joy and seeing them smile at how cute and well-behaved she is. The real-life Banks was also very charitable, and so is the canine version.

Once a week, Ernie and I go to the Desert Care Network's Comprehensive Cancer Center at Desert Regional Medical Center, where she volunteers as an animal therapy dog for a local nonprofit called Paws & Hearts.

The organization, which was founded in December 2000 by Richard Waxman, operates seven days a week. Dogs like Ernie and their human guardians (I eschew the term "dog owner" because the concept of owning a living, breathing thing is creepy to me) visit area hospitals, long-term care facilities, cancer centers, Alzheimer's facilities and senior centers, where they visit with patients and residents in the hopes of lifting their spirits.

Pet therapy is often credited for diminishing physical and emotional pain, reducing boredom and anxiety and simply making people happy. I once heard actress Kristen Bell say that dogs are nature's antidepressants, and I believe this is true.

Ernie loves volunteering, which we do for 90 minutes every Thursday. When she sees me put on my white "Paws & Hearts" shirt, she seems to know exactly where we're going, and she can hardly contain her excitement. And when we get to the cancer center's parking lot, she pulls on her leash as she races for the door, eager to get inside.

While we've only been doing this since June, we have met so many nice people. We visit the cancer center's three floors, where we say hi to patients and their companions. If they want to pet Ernie, she is more than happy to jump into the vacant seat next to them. If they want her to sit on their laps, she’ll oblige. Sometimes people even ask to take her picture.

We've visited with some people more than once, and when they greet us with "Hi, Ernie!" it makes me really happy. One lovely woman we met several times named Margie completed her treatment but actually came back one Thursday just to see Ernie again.

Another time we met a woman named Jackie whose husband had been treated at Eisenhower's Lucy Curci Cancer Center. She told us the volunteer dogs had brought him great comfort and joy during his treatment. "He looked forward to dog days," she said. "You really don't know what a true impact it makes."

Not everyone enjoys the company of a therapy dog ("I'm a cat person," one gentleman said before succumbing to Ernie’s charms and inviting her onto his lap), and that's OK. Oftentimes it's easy to spot those who want to be left alone and those who want to pet a therapy dog. On a recent visit, we approached a young woman seated in the lobby, and before I had a chance to speak, she welcomed Ernie with open arms and exclaimed, "This is exactly the serotonin boost I needed right now!" and proceeded to give her lots of love.

Volunteering at the center is incredibly rewarding. It feels so good to make people happy, if only for a minute or two.

One woman confided in me that while she hates having to come to the center for treatment, petting volunteer dogs actually calms her and reminds her that there is good in the world.

Once we cautiously approached an older, frail-looking gentleman who looked like he was sleeping. But when he saw Ernie, his face lit up, he became very animated and he actually started singing in a loud voice: "You're just too good to be true. … Can't take my eyes off of you …" It was so sweet, and the other people in the waiting room thought it was adorable. A nurse called his name before he got to the bombastic "I love you, baby!" part of the song, but as Ernie and I walked away, I heard this man say to his friend: "That's all I needed. I can go now."

It's not just the patients who appreciate our visits. Members of the center's wonderful staff also stop to say hi to Ernie, most of them calling her by name. One woman even gets down on the floor to play with her.

Teresa E. Whipple, executive director of the cancer center, couldn't be more supportive of Ernie and the Paws & Hearts organization. "We are so fortunate to have a team of therapy dogs working in the Comprehensive Cancer Center here at Desert Regional Medical Center," she said. "The positive impact to the cancer patients is immeasurable. Seeing and petting a therapy dog makes patients less anxious and a little happier. Our reception areas seem lighter when Ernie Banks and her fellow doggies are on duty."

I encourage everyone reading this to consider volunteering their time for a worthwhile organization. In addition to bringing joy to others, it brings you joy as well. You can find a list of nonprofits looking for help here.

To learn more about Paws & Hearts, visit pawsandhearts.org.

As the philanthropy and special sections editor at The Desert Sun, Winston Gieseke writes about nonprofits, fundraising and locals who give back. Reach him at [email protected].

This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Canine volunteer makes impact with Palm Springs cancer hospital