Central PA Medicine - February 2017 - 17

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Meet
Kaia
FIRST FULL-TIME FACILITY DOG

K

AT PENN STATE HERSHEY'S CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL

aia is a presence throughout the or a facility dog for a children's hospital.  Her
Penn State Hershey Children's official 'training' began at just a few weeks of
Hospital but mostly works in age at Canine Assistants in Alpharetta, Georgia. 
radiology and radiation oncology. Canine Assistants raises service and facility dogs. 
She provides assistance in the patient setting, During Kaia's first 18 months, she received a
such as demonstrating to a child how to be great deal of socialization experiences, including
still on a CT scan table. Kaia serves a specific visits to restaurants, malls, and even children's
role in assisting Child Life Specialists in hospitals in the Atlanta area. She was raised
interventions with pediatric patients.  Kaia using the Bond-Based Choice Teaching Method,
works 40 hours per week, with time allowed which focuses on the bond and relationship
for downtime, naps and walks. Kaia lives between the recipient (or handler) and the
with her primary handler, Ashley Kane, dog. This type of teaching focuses less on the
manager of the Child Life Program, and 'commands' that you may think of when you
also has a secondary handler Alicia Cesare, think of what a service dog is able to do, and
a Child Life Specialist in pediatric radiology. more about the relationship and how the
dog will naturally respond to requests made
by its handler. At some point during Kaia's
Q&A WITH KAIA'S PRIMARY
time at Canine Assistants, it was determined
HANDLER, ASHLEY KANE
that her personality would match well with
Tell us a little bit about how Kaia came to become a children's hospital, and she was eventually
a service dog.
matched specifically with Penn State Children's
Kaia was born and raised with the intention of Hospital through a series of steps to determine
becoming either a service dog for an individual the best placement.

What would you say is something that makes
Kaia different from other dogs?
When Kaia is not at work, she is absolutely
a typical, energetic, loving 'puppy' at this point
in her life!  I think what is so unique about Kaia
is her ability to 'flip the switch' when she gets to
work - it's almost that she instinctively knows
she is 'at work' and has an important job to do! 
She becomes 'calm Kaia' once we get to work,
and is a sweet, yet confident, dog who loves
everyone she meets! 
What does Kaia do as a service dog at the hospital?
Kaia's primary role as a facility dog at Penn
State Children's Hospital is to work with pediatric
patients in radiology and radiation oncology. 
Alicia or I, as Kaia's handlers and as Certified
Child Life Specialists in these clinical areas, will
assess our pediatric patients' needs, along with
a few other criteria, before offering a visit from
Kaia.  Not every child is in need of interventions
Continued on page 18
Central PA Medicine February 2017 17
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