Pet Therapy Dogs Comfort Patients

Sheryl Vollrath and Samantha

Hundreds of local residents who have been patients of Fauquier Hospital or have visited here have enjoyed the tag-wagging presence of our Pet Therapy dogs. One of the veterans of the program was Samantha, whose owner Sheryl Vollrath, was director of the program.
On March 29, Samantha made what was to be the last of her 400-plus Pet Therapy visits. Her journey as a Pet Therapy dog started in Endicott, N.Y., in June 2001 and continued at Fauquier Hospital in March 2003 after moving to Virginia from New York.


Samantha knew that Tuesday’s were “work days” and loved visiting her many friends and sharing with the patients at the hospital. Her dedication was recognized with the Fauquier Hospital Spirit of Planetree Animal Therapy Award in 2009 and the Therapy Dog International Exceptional Volunteer Achievement Award in July 2011.

Samantha will be missed by Fauquier Hospital patients, visitors and staff.