People and Animals Working in Spirit (P.A.W.S.), the therapy dog program at Griffin Hospital in Derby, is offering 2015 calendars featuring professional photos of its caring canines to raise money for the hospital’s hospice program.

Founded in 1996 with just one greyhound, P.A.W.S. provides therapy dog visits to patients at Griffin Hospital and rehabilitation centers to provide companionship and help decrease anxiety. The program now has sixteen certified therapy animal and companion teams with dogs ranging in size from a Shih Tzu to a Bernese Mountain Dog.

The Griffin Hospital Hospice program brings comfort, dignity, self-respect and tranquility to patients in the final stages of life. The program offers trained staff that work collaboratively with family members to discuss care and respond to factors that may influence the patient’s physical and mental wellbeing and provides comfort items for the patient and the family members such as flowers, afghans, candles with LED lights, and complementary therapies like therapeutic massage, Reiki and meditation. 

The calendars are $12 each and are available in Griffin Pharmacy & Gifts, located on the first floor of Griffin Hospital, 130 Division Street, Derby. 

For more information, contact P.A.W.S. Program Coordinator Ruth Tuccio at 203.732.1298 or rtuccio@griffinhealth.org.