Limited therapy pet visits resume
The pandemic has affected every aspect of St. Joseph’s Hospital-North in Lutz, including the hospital’s pet therapy program.
During COVID peaks and visitor restrictions and pandemic safety measures, the pet program for all patients and team members was suspended and stopped completely.
At other times, pet therapy was offered only for team members in restricted non-patient areas and outdoors.
And during lulls and periods of lower COVID presence, the program was available to some patients.
During the outbreak at the end of 2021 into early 2022, pet therapy again was shut down.
St. Joseph’s now is happy to report that some patients can resume visits with the furry friends, bringing back smiles and joy.
Jackson, a 7-year-old golden retriever, wore bunny ears for his pre-Easter visit to a hospital room, with his handler Ron Graff.
Beeping egg hunt a success
The Lighthouse for the Visually Impaired and Blind hosted its annual Beeping Easter Egg Hunt on April 9. Kids who are visually impaired searched for beeping eggs, while their sighted siblings looked for the regular eggs. At the end of the hunt, everyone exchanged their eggs for candy.
The Beeping Easter Egg Hunt is just one of Lighthouse’s many programs and activities for visually impaired youth. To learn more, Visit LVIB.org.
All aboard, for good causes
The Woman’s Club of Zephyrhills presented to a sold-out audience Maria Buckley’s production of ‘Murder on a Budget Cruise Line’ dinner theatre. Proceeds from the production were donated to the Healing Hearts Cafe and a domestic violence shelter. Club members and guests, from left, are: Emily Keene, Sue Trebour, Robin Burke, Brenda Dougherty, Peggy Berry, Missy Moon, Tammy Hanlon and Tom Dougherty.
Health resources
The Pasco Sheriff’s Office has compiled commnity-based health resources on its website, to help serve citizens.
Resources are available for a variety of challenges that citizens may encounter, including mental health issues, houselessness, suicidal thoughts, and more.
The list was developed to give those seeking assistance a place to start when they may not know how.
For information, visit PascoSheriff.com, and click on “Community Based Resources.”
Wellness Center opens to the public
Saint Leo University on April 8 opened the doors of a $20 million, 59,500-square-foot Wellness Center that features an outdoor pool, basketball courts, state-of-the-art gym amenities and locker rooms, a cafe and more, to the public. ‘We anticipate offering a variety of fitness classes in the Mind, Body, Spirit Studio, Group X Studio, and Cycling Studio on an ongoing basis as well,’ said Kathleen Pantalone, executive director, Wellness Center Services and Events.
