Nandansons Funds Expansion of Pet Therapy Program

Thanks to the generosity of the Nandansons Foundation, pet therapy is expanding at Hackensack Meridian JFK University Medical Center, and it’s hard to tell who is more excited – patients or team members.

“Patients react quite well, but I have seen nurses sit on the floor and cry and hug the dog,” said Mary Beth Cunningham, co-president of the Auxiliary of JFK University Medical Center Foundation. She said the pet visits are a huge stress reliever, particularly in pediatrics.

For nearly a year, Creature Comfort Pet Therapy has been bringing trained therapy dogs – and on special occasions, rabbits and miniature horses – to the medical center in Edison. The program has been a hit and expanded to two days a week and then three, with visits from “regulars” Niles, a black Lab, and Chace, a golden retriever.

Through his family foundation in Edison, Ankit Gupta committed to providing the funds so that the pets and their handlers from the non-profit group based in Morris County could come to the medical center every day for a year.

“This type of therapy has been shown to have many benefits for patients, including reducing stress and anxiety, improving mood, increasing socialization, and providing a sense of companionship,” said Ankit. “Overall, the pet therapy program is a wonderful addition to the care that patients receive at JFK, providing emotional and social support in a unique and meaningful way.”

He went on to express “deep gratitude to Ms. Claudia Mastrapasqua, Ms. Mary Beth Cunningham, and Ms. Katie Barnes for their endless effort in creating and further developing this program.”

In the warmer months, Mary Beth says that the hospital may also start to see visits from therapy goats and notes that philanthropy is crucial in helping to expand this program and continue to enhance the hospital’s visits from these furry friends.

As National Therapy Animal Day is celebrated on April 30, Hackensack Meridian Health Foundation would like to express our gratitude to Ankit, Mary Beth, the team members who coordinate these invaluable services throughout our network, and of course, the pets and owners themselves, for bringing comfort and cuteness to patients and team members alike.