A special retirement celebration was held at Carroll Hospital in Westminster, Maryland, for a beloved staff member: Gryphon, a therapy dog. Gryphon, a 150-pound Leonberger, has been bringing joy and comfort to patients and staff for the past seven years. His handler, Dona Costlow, couldn’t be more proud of his impact.
Costlow described Gryphon’s effect on patients, saying, “To see the difference he makes in the attitude of people is incredible… can’t even describe it. It changes them completely from what they were before.” She shared a particularly moving experience with a patient in a coma: “We had a patient who was in a coma and the family put their hand on Gryphon and that’s all it took, the person smiled. And that was the only reaction they got the entire time they were in the coma. And I can’t describe what that means.”
Gryphon isn’t the only therapy dog at Carroll Hospital. Eight dogs, including Dempsey, provide unconditional love to patients. Georgeanne Trummert, who works with My Caring Paws pet therapy, explained how the dogs improve patient well-being: “I think it releases endorphins in the body when they’re petting the dogs and you can visually see them relaxing, and some people said it’s the best day they’ve had since they’ve been in the hospital.”
Former patient Sherry Kendall and her daughter, Natalie, shared their heartfelt gratitude for Gryphon. Sherry recalled her experience: “I was pretty much just (lying) in bed. I was in the hospital for six days and when I saw him, oh my gosh. My face lit up. I got up for the first time in a while.” Natalie added, “It was an incredible thing to witness for a pet lover to have a pet in a hospital which is such a sterile environment an so much fear, terror and sadness and to have life come back in – it’s incredible.”
The staff gathered to bid farewell to Gryphon, showering him with affection. He leaves behind a legacy of love and comfort, touching the lives of countless patients and staff. Gryphon’s work extends beyond the hospital walls, as he also visits libraries, schools, and special events. Now, he is ready to enjoy his golden years relaxing and swimming, his favorite activity. He is, without a doubt, a very good boy.
