Visits with Pearl

Animal therapy dogs are quite common, but what about a therapy llama? Pearl is a therapy llama who is a part of the Mid-South Therapy Dogs. She and her handler, Tori Howks, visited with patients and staff at Methodist Le Bonheur Germantown Hospital where Pearl brought a lot of smiles and happiness to everyone she met.

Greg McMillen had been a patient in the hospital for a couple of months with cardiac issues. So, he was happy to have the monotony of the day broken up by a special visit with Pearl.

“It makes my day a lot better,” McMillen said. “It’s good to be outside.”

“Studies show simply petting an animal lowers the level of cortisol, a stress hormone, so patients are less stressed,” explained Diane Ridgway, former president of Methodist Le Bonheur Germantown. “Studies also show dopamine, a blood chemical associated with happiness goes up.”

“It’s wonderful to see the rapport she has with everyone she meets and how she brings a smile to their faces and makes them happy,” said Howks.