Paws and Play Animal-Assisted Therapy Program
von ICAHN SCHOOL OF MEDICINE AT MOUNT SINAI
Paws & Play, supported by PetSmart Charities®
Paws & Play is the facility dog program at Mount Sinai Kravis Children’s Hospital. Professor, Amos and Moby, our beloved facility dogs, are full-time “employees” in the Child Life and Creative Arts Therapy Department. This program pairs Animal-Assisted Therapy (AAT) with the skills of Certified Child Life Specialists and Art Therapists to provide therapeutic interventions for patients, families, staff, faculty and trainees. Research has shown that Animal-Assisted Therapy and facility dogs increase positive behaviors, reduce experiences of pain, lower blood pressure, and decrease experiences of depression and fatigue. Just as important, AAT has also proven to reduce patient anxiety during medical appointments, reduce feelings of isolation and provide opportunities for increased social support. This wonderful program is supported by the generosity of our friends at PetSmart Charities, The Mount Sinai Auxiliary Board, and The Gertrude and Louis Feil Charitable Trust.
