The UCLA Health People-Animal Connection program has been honored by the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors for its more than two decades of providing hundreds of thousands of patients, families and guests at UCLA medical centers and events with the comfort of a furry canine friend.
The program’s director, Erin Rice, and Kunal Wahi, coordinator for the program, and volunteer teams of humans and dogs accepted the honor.
“Today we had such fun recognizing the amazing and heartwarming work of UCLA People-Animal Connection, one of the most comprehensive animal-assisted therapy and activity programs in the nation,” said L.A. County Supervisor Shelia Kuehl, who presented a proclamation scroll to the teams.
UCLA Health People-Animal Connection volunteer teams offer companionship and warmth to more than 1,000 critically ill children and adults per month. Since its inception in 1994, the teams have recorded more than 120,000 in-patients visits, as well as hundreds of thousands visits to families and guests at UCLA medical centers and community events.