JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Wolfson Children's Hospital calls it a purr-fect partnership with the Jacksonville humane society.
The Play with Cats program allows kids in isolation to play with cats and kittens at the Humane Society without actually being in the same room.
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Wolfson has several forms of pet therapy like bringing pets to the hospital, but kids in isolation have to stay in their rooms and miss out on that fun. News4Jax's Elizabeth Campbell spent some time yesterday with Camryn, a 7-year-old boy with cystic fibrosis. He said this program brings a sense of home to the hospital.
He starts off a little shy, but when asked about his dog Zeplin, he opens right up.
"He likes his ball when he's playing and he doesn't like no one to touch it and he usually is guarding it whenever we try to pick it up he tries to bite our hand," says Camryn.
Camryn is a St. Mary's Georgia boy who is in and out of Wolfson Children's Hospital. Keeping him entertained is important.
Wolfson and the Jacksonville Humane Society launched "Play with Cats" in late February. It allows kids in 151 rooms to have control of three different cat toys at the shelter with the push of a button. They have the ability to watch on TV as the animals react and play with them.
Camryn's mom, Nikol Devoss says he loves playing ball with his dog at home. "Whenever we throw it, he jumps up at us."
This program lets him interact with a pet, even while in isolation.
"He's always saying he misses his dog so it gives him the chance to actually get to play with a pet and get that interaction he's missing from the animals at home," says Devoss.
Pat Kirkland with Wolfson says the program gives the kids a sense of direction.
"They're in an environment where they don't have a lot of control over things that happen. The cat program gives them a sense of control," says Kirkland.
Not only does this program benefit the kids at Wolfson but it also keeps the cats active at the Humane Society. It also shows off the adoptable kittens and cats to hundreds of families.
