The Humane Animal Welfare Society (HAWS) of Waukesha County, Inc. and ProHealth Care (PHC) have partnered to create the PHC Cardiac Friends program. Cardiac rehabilitation patients from Waukesha Memorial Hospital (WMH) have joined the ranks of the dog walking volunteers at HAWS, greatly benefiting both the patients and shelter residents alike.
“The Cardiac Friends dog-walking program is a great way to get our cardiac rehab/EXCEL patients exercising, and at the same time helping their ‘friends’ increase their activity too,” said Jennifer Ehrhardt, an ACSM Registered Clinical Exercise Physiologist with PHC’s Regional Heart & Vascular Center. “The group is really enjoying their time at HAWS; time spent with the dogs and each other.”
The program is the brainchild of Susan Kidder, founder of the WMH pet therapy program. Kidder was looking for ways to expand patient and dog interaction, and came up with the idea to bring HAWS and cardiac rehab patients together. Kidder noted: “Walking your best friend is one of the best exercises – and must be done in any weather, several times a day.”
According to Kim Kalczynski, HAWS Volunteer Coordinator, “The guys are loving it and they’re doing a great job! They don’t hold back – they are motivated, and very good dog handlers.”
HAWS, a non-profit organization established in 1965, assists over 6,000 animals each year and welcomes more than 31,000 human visitors to our shelter annually. As an “open admissions” shelter HAWS assures sanctuary for all animals in need, while offering educational programs and services to promote responsible pet ownership and prevent animal abuse. The shelter is located at 701 Northview Road in Waukesha, Wisconsin. For more information call (262) 542-8851 or log onto our website at www.hawspets.org.
