Pediatric Comfort
When A Child’s Body Hurts, We Help
Our Dogs Lift Spirits in Healthcare Settings
Roxy Therapy Dogs’ visits to Pedia Manor group homes provide a fun, welcome distraction to medically fragile children with chronic health issues. The excitement begins the moment our human-canine teams arrive. Many children reside in these homes long-term, so they really look forward to our weekly visits as a special treat and a positive distraction. Working alongside the skilled, compassionate pediatric caregivers, Roxy volunteer teams set out to make each child’s day as comfortable and as enjoyable as possible.
Because each child’s situation at Pedia Manor is unique, our therapy teams visit children individually and cater the visit to the individual needs and wishes of every child. Some children are able to get up and play with a dog, while some are content to sit on a volunteer's lap and watch from a distance. Others are ventilator- and/or feeding tube-dependent and rely upon Pedia Manor’s skilled pediatric caregivers for help with movement. The dogs will lie patiently while the staff reposition the children to help them pet a dog.
No matter what illnesses or conditions these children suffer from, they always manage to give our teams a smile and let them know how much they love our visits.
Interested in volunteering? Learn more ➜
“It was an amazing visit. We had so much fun. We even had some circle time with a group of kids. One who had been afraid in the past chose to pet and hang out with Cali. One little boy was walking out with me, his hand on Cali, waving bye-bye to the nurses. He fussed when we left.”
— Jill Beach and Cali
Pediatric Comfort
Benefits to the Children
Slower heart rate
Lower anxiety
Increased oxytocin (feel-good hormone)
Improved social skills
Location
Pedia Manor has two houses in Pipersville and three in Quakertown.
Director
Phyllis Mikolaj, Director of Pediatric Comfort
Did You Know?
Founded in 2003, Pedia Manor was launched by a group of licensed medical professionals who believed there was a better way to care for this fragile population.
With high-quality people and low patient-to-staff ratios, Pedia Manor doesn’t simply provide the best medical care. It creates the best environment for these children to live.
Pediatric Comfort FAQs
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Pedia Manor works with your schedule. They just ask that you be consistent with your days.
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Pedia Manor has volunteers who visit only on weekends. They are very flexible with schedules.
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We always ask our potential teams to have a meet and greet with Pedia Manor’s child life specialist. It is beneficial for all that the dog remains calm and unafraid. The meet and greet lets everyone see how the dog relates to the children and if they would be a good volunteer fit.
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The children range in age from infancy to 21. Different houses are designed for different age groups of children. You will often see some of the children move from one house to another.
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Depending on your visit, you may come across a family visiting their child. They are more than happy to interact with the dog. Visits vary as many families have other children to look after.
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All of the children at PM live at the houses. Some have parents and siblings who visit regularly. We have seen some children go home. The hope is always that the children can live independently with their families.
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We have a wonderful relationship with the staff at all the houses. They are readily available to help you with anything you may need to make the visit go smoothly. You may need to ask them for help positioning the child so that they can get the best possible experience from the visit.
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Some of the children are mainstreamed into the Central Bucks School District. Others have teachers come to Pedia Manor to teach.
