Torino can have a calming effect on those who need it. (Submitted photo/Daina Lapworth)

By Derek Cornet

helping paw

Therapy dog providing support at COVID-19 vaccine clinics in La Ronge

Jan 12, 2022 | 5:00 PM

Sometimes all someone needs is a little bit of comfort and Torino, a local therapy dog, is here to do just that.

Every Monday for the last month, Torino has been at the La Ronge Health Centre to assist those who are receiving a COVID-19 vaccine. Children North executive director Daina Lapworth explained staff at the hospital called her in December and requested Torino be available for those in the five to 11 age group.

“Then we had a few phone calls from some adults asking if it’s possible for him to do adults as well,” she said. “They changed it to every Monday 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. for anybody that comes in. He spends his Mondays at the hospital.”

Torino is trained to reduce anxiety, provide a distraction or comfort while someone is being vaccinated. For instance, he will sit on a person’s lap, lean in to them or lick their face to make them less nervous. Some of the younger children fed treats to Torino when they got a shot.

Torino can have a profound calming effect and those in particular who can benefit are those 18 years old and younger, people with special needs or people who have anxiety about needles.

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“He was born with the right personality, but there’s a whole training he had to go through and certification process,” Lapworth said. “He works at Children’s North on a daily basis.”

Torino is a therapy dog with six years of experience. (Submitted photo/Daina Lapworth)

Torino is a miniature schnauzer and he’s non-shedding, so it’s better for kids who have allergies. Lapworth noted there has been a lot of positive feedback about him working at the hospital, adding she expects him to be there on Mondays until he’s no longer asked to show up.

“He’s loving it. He likes to be on people’s laps all the time and just be pet and get attention, so it works well for everybody,” she said.

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derek.cornet@pattisonmedia.com

Twitter: @saskjourno