Friday’s just aren’t going to be the same at Kona Community Hospital.
Friday’s just aren’t going to be the same at Kona Community Hospital.
Mordy, a golden retriever who gave scores of patients comfort for nearly a decade, died Thursday morning, Judy Donovan, hospital spokeswoman said Saturday. Owned by Ernie and Zee Knapp, of Kailua-Kona, the 100-pound, 30-inch-tall canine was 14.
The hospital’s lone certified pet therapy dog completed a 50-hour Delta Society Pet Partners program in 2004. The national nonprofit registers handlers of multiple species, as well as trains and screens animal/handler teams. After joining the Orange County, Calif., pet therapy program, Mordy’s first assignment was at Children’s Hospital in California where he interacted with babies. The keiki often pulled on his ears, poked his nose and climbed on his soft golden-red fur when he would lie down.
In 2006, the Knapps moved to Kona and joined the Kona Community Hospital Auxiliary Volunteer Services Pet Therapy Program. Every Friday since, Mordy and Ernie have made their rounds through the Kealakekua facility.
Hundreds of patients, as well as employees, have experienced the affection and comfort only a pet therapy dog like Mordy could provide. According to studies published by the National Institutes of Health, a therapy dog has a positive effect on patients’ pain level and satisfaction with their hospital stay following total joint replacement and fibromyalgia patients spending time with a therapy dog instead of in an outpatient waiting area at a pain management facility reported significant improvement in pain, mood and other measures of distress.
“The best thing about making daily rounds was that Mordy was seeing patients and people, who have had animals in their lives, and have them forget why they were in the hospital. It was a pleasure seeing Mordy make people happy,” Ernie said in a statement released by Donovan. The couple did not respond for further comment as of press time.
Mordy’s name was short for Mordechai, the guardian of Queen Esther from the Book of Esther in the Old Testament, according to a baseball card Ernie would hand out for Mordy. The name represents a “strong and caring person,” it reads.
“This is Mordy,” reads the card, which features stats, background information and other facts — such as his favorite activity was swimming in the ocean and playing with green sea turtles. “He is a dog who loves people. His eyes and smile grow with the more love he gets.”
Mordy was also well-known in the community. He and his partner, Ernie, also volunteered at Kona Adult Day Care Center and Head Start, in addition to making appearances at numerous parades and festivals through the years. The large, yet docile dog even participated in some Ironman triathlon events.
“We’re saddened by the loss of Mordy,” Donovan said. “Everyone at KCH is so grateful for his years of loving service to our patients and the community.”
The Kona Community Hospital Auxiliary provides a volunteer support base for the hospital. Volunteers assist in a variety of ways, including helping staff with data processing, patient assistance and interaction, working in the gift shop, participating in community functions and conducting fundraisers. The organization also provides nursing scholarships and continuing education funding for hospital nurses, as well as money requested by departments to cover necessities not included in the hospital’s budget.
For more information on the auxiliary, visit www.kchauxiliary.org, call 322-4577 or email KCHAuxiliary@hotmail.com.