OBI Has a Therapy Dog Team!

Introducing the BloodHounds... OBI's New Therapy Dog Team!

Find giving blood a little stressful? Our new BloodHounds therapy dog program is here to calm your nerves and brighten your day.

At Our Blood Institute, we're always looking for innovative ways to improve the donor experience and make giving blood a little easier, a little more enjoyable and a lot more rewarding. That's why we're paws-itively excited to announce the launch of our new therapy dog team, the OBI BloodHounds.

Donating blood is a simple but incredibly important act of generosity. It saves lives, helps those in need and is one of the most impactful ways individuals can contribute to their community. However, for some, the process can feel daunting.

MORE: What to Expect When Giving Blood

Whether it's fear of needles, anxiety about the procedure or general nervousness, there are many reasons why donors might feel uneasy. That's where the OBI BloodHounds come in!

What Are the BloodHounds?

The BloodHounds is OBI's new team of certified therapy dogs, specially trained to provide comfort and emotional support to blood donors. These friendly, calm and loving pups are here to offer a soothing presence during donation sessions, helping to reduce anxiety and create a more relaxed environment. The program is designed to make blood donation a more paws-itively pleasant and stress-free experience for everyone involved.

OBI BloodHounds logo

What Is a Therapy Dog?

A therapy dog is a dog that is trained to provide comfort and emotional support to people in a variety of settings, included but not limited to: hospitals, schools, assisted living facilities, workplaces, libraries, hospices, disaster areas and more.

Therapy dogs are trained to interact with a wide range of people, not just their handlers. They are different from service dogs, which are trained to perform specific tasks to help people with disabilities. Therapy dogs also don't have the same legal access to public areas as service dogs.

Therapy dogs are typically registered with an animal-assisted intervention organization after passing a behavioral, veterinary and training evaluation. Certification provides temperament testing and liability insurance for the dog.

Therapy dogs can improve mental health through socialization and engagement, help learning-disabled children read out loud and aid in physical rehabilitation. For OBI, therapy dogs can help ease donor nerves, distract donors, connect donors and provide a positive donor experience they want to come back to.

Why Therapy Dogs?

The power of animals, especially therapy dogs, to ease anxiety and provide comfort has long been recognized. Therapy dogs are trained to interact with people in ways that are calming and emotionally supportive. Their gentle nature and unconditional companionship have been shown to help reduce stress and promote feelings of well-being. For blood donors, this can be particularly beneficial in alleviating nerves before, during and after the donation process.

Here are some key benefits of having an OBI BloodHound on site:

Reduced Anxiety and Stress

For many people, the idea of donating blood can be intimidating. Therapy dogs are known for their ability to lower stress levels and provide emotional comfort. Simply petting or spending time with a dog has been shown to release endorphins and reduce cortisol levels, which can calm nerves and make donors feel more at ease.

A Welcoming and Positive Environment

The presence of therapy dogs at donation centers and blood drives will create a more inviting atmosphere for blood donors. With their friendly faces and wagging tails, the BloodHounds are sure to brighten up the room and provide a positive distraction from the usual medical setting. This welcoming environment can help foster a sense of community and encourage more people to donate.

Encouragement and Motivation

Many donors may feel nervous or unsure before their first donation. Having a therapy dog by their side can be a comforting reminder that they are not alone in the process. The dogs offer unconditional support, and their presence can make donors feel cared for and appreciated. This encouragement can help donors paws and reflect on the great impact of their donation, resulting in a more confident and fulfilling experience.

Building Emotional Connections

One of the most profound benefits of therapy dogs is their ability to connect with people emotionally. Donors may arrive feeling uncertain or anxious, but by the end of the donation session, they may leave with a stronger sense of purpose and pride. The calming presence of an OBI BloodHound creates a deeper emotional bond between donors and the act of donating, reinforcing the importance of their contribution in a way that’s both personal and rewarding.

How Our Therapy Dog Program Works

When you visit one of our donation centers and blood drives, you may encounter one of OBI's BloodHounds at check-in, in the waiting area or during the post-donation recovery period. These highly trained dogs are there to interact with donors, providing comfort and support wherever it's needed most. OBI's team of handlers will ensure the dogs remain calm and well-behaved so donors can enjoy their presence in a relaxed and safe environment.

Interested in meeting a BloodHound during your next visit? Just ask one of our staff members if the dogs are available to greet you!

A Win-Win for Everyone

The introduction of OBI's BloodHounds is just one of the many ways we're working to make blood donation a more comfortable and enjoyable experience. For donors, it's an opportunity to receive emotional support during the process. For the BloodHounds, it's a chance to do what they do best: offer companionship and joy to those who need it!

At the end of the day, donating blood is an act of kindness and generosity. We hope that by adding the BloodHounds to our team, we can create a more positive, comforting and supportive environment for our donors. So the next time you donate, you may find yourself not only saving lives but also getting a little love and affection from one of our furry friends.

Together, we're making a difference in more ways than one. The BloodHounds are here, and we can’t wait for you to meet them!

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