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Hospice Volunteer Brings Joy, Comfort with the Help of her Rescue Dog 

VNA Care hospice volunteer Angela Moll will be the first to tell you that she’s not the one making the biggest impact during her visits with terminally ill patients. It’s her dog.

“I’m just the transportation,” she said with a laugh.

For the past seven years, Angela has been a dedicated hospice volunteer with VNA Care, bringing comfort, companionship, and often a wagging tail into the homes of patients and families. Much of her time is spent alongside her therapy dog, Louie, a gentle rescue with a calm nature perfectly suited for hospice care.

Together, they offer a kind of comfort that is simple, but can mean everything.

Angela remembered how one patient’s face lit up as soon as Louie entered the room. Always under Angela’s guidance, he responded to the patient’s cues, sitting close and giving her loving attention before rolling over for a belly rub. “She was so happy,” remembered Angela. “Her daughter was there too, and you could tell they both felt so elated by Louie’s presence.”

Before Louie, there was Bruno, Angela’s first therapy dog, who helped shape her work as a volunteer. She loved walking room to room with him at VNA Care’s Rose Monahan Hospice Home and seeing the joy his visits brought patients and loved ones going through a difficult time of life.

One home visit was particularly moving. The family had paintings of dogs all over their house and had had a dog for much of their lives. When Bruno went to sit by the patient’s wheelchair, she leaned over and began stroking his head. The patient’s husband told Angela that his wife “just doesn’t do things like that anymore.” It was meaningful for him to see her so happy and for her to experience such a natural connection.

Angela, Bruno, and Louie underwent a pet therapy certification program before starting their volunteer work at VNA Care. The training is extensive, with Angela first completing a course to become a handler and then Bruno and later Louie both completing six to nine months of training and an exam before receiving their certification.

While pet therapy has become a signature part of Angela’s volunteer work at VNA Care, it’s only one piece of what she offers. She also visits patients on her own, tailoring her time to each individual. Sometimes that means listening to music, looking through old photographs, listening to people’s stories, or providing quiet companionship.

“It’s always about finding out who the patient is and what they enjoy,” she explained. “You let the patient take the lead.”

The mindset of meeting people where they are guides Angela’s visits and is shared by VNA Care’s hospice volunteers across Eastern and Central Massachusetts. Our volunteers come from diverse backgrounds but share a common desire to make a difference. Under the direction of Hospice Volunteer Coordinator Melinda Hayden-Queeno, they complete a comprehensive training program and receive ongoing support at meetings and workshops.

Angela has a deep appreciation for her fellow volunteers and the hospice clinicians she works alongside.

She said, “VNA Care's hospice volunteers and staff are an incredible network of what the world needs right now — love, patience, and understanding.”

Pictured: Angela holding Bruno (left) and Louie (right) 

Because of donor support, compassionate volunteers like Angela can continue bringing comfort and connection to patients and families at the end of life. You can make an impact by donating today. Learn more about giving your time as a hospice volunteer.