Eden Hospice of Cheyenne welcomes Bear, a certified therapy dog

CHEYENNE – Eden Hospice of Cheyenne has welcomed the newest member to its team, Bear: the certified therapy border collie.

Bear received his certification from the Alliance of Therapy Dogs (ATD) and has already been busy visiting the community’s hospice patients as a volunteer with his handler, Eden Health of Cheyenne’s Stephanie Cotherman.

The 6-year-old dog was found by Cotherman’s husband Matt when he was out adventuring the Colorado wilderness. The veterinarian said he would have only had a couple more days to live had he not been rescued, but through tender loving care, Bear is now thriving.

“This dog has made my day. I love him so much!” said Nancy Singer, one of Bear’s hospice patients.

Therapy dogs like Bear offer benefits to hospice patients by providing emotional support, reducing anxiety and offering comfort through a challenging time. Their presence can help alleviate feelings of loneliness and depression, improve social interactions and even decrease physical pain through the release of endorphins when patients interact with them. The gentle companionship of a therapy dog can bring moments of joy and a sense of peace, making a profound impact on the overall well-being of hospice patients.

“We’re so excited to have Bear join our team,” said Cindy Garcia-Bartnett, community liaison for Eden Health of Cheyenne. “He will be such a blessing to everyone in the community.”