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WHEREAS, Three Rivers Hospice and Family Home Health Services is a locally owned and operated company with over 40 years of combined experience helping people recover from acute illnesses, injuries, and surgeries; and,
WHEREAS, in 2001, Norm Rish, President of Three Rivers Hospice and Family Home Health Services launched the first pet therapy program in the Pittsburgh area under the direction of then-volunteer Laura Sokolovic and her Rottweiler, Athena; and,
WHEREAS, in 2006, Athena passed away, leaving Anastasia as her replacement. Laura Sokolovic became Director of both Public Relations and the Pet Therapy Program, where she focused all of her energy on fine-tuning the Pet Therapy Program for Three Rivers Hospice and Family Home Health Services; and,
WHEREAS, Laura’s pet therapy program is a way for Three Rivers Hospice and Family Home Health Services to give back to the communities they serve throughout Western PA. There is never a fee for visits, and Laura’s pets visit patients in hospice throughout Allegheny County; and,
WHEREAS, the pet-therapy program provides therapy to nursing facilities, hospitals, doctors’ offices, and schools. The program acts as a fundraiser for numerous causes, including the American Cancer Society, Alzheimer’s research, family shelters, and animal shelters; and,
WHEREAS, the pet therapy program continues today through the loss of Athena and Anastasia with Arianna and Sebastian. Arianna and Sebastian “bring smiles to everyone they meet” as pet therapy dogs. Arianna, Sebastian and Friends continue to grow the pet therapy program with help from Laura and support from Three Rivers Hospice and Family Home Health Services. The pet therapy program truly is “The Home That Anastasia Built;” and,
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NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Council of the City of Pittsburgh does hereby declare Tuesday, June 27, 2017 to be “Three Rivers Hospice and Family Home Health Services Day” in the City of Pittsburgh.