Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital’s Pediatric Program and West Michigan Therapy Dogs will be recipients of funds raised at the BISSELL Howl-O-Ween Hoof and Woof, along with the BISSELL Pet Foundation. Mary Free Bed is a not-for-profit, nationally accredited rehabilitation hospital. For 124 years, Mary Free Bed has restored hope and freedom through rehabilitation for children and adults who have experienced brain injuries, strokes, spinal cord injuries, multiple traumas, amputations, cancer and other conditions. The combination of comprehensive services and an exclusive focus on rehabilitation enables specialty physicians and staff to help patients achieve outstanding clinical results. West Michigan Therapy Dogs is a non-profit therapy dog organization of volunteers providing the western region of Michigan with Animal Assisted Activities (AAA) and Animal Assisted Therapy (AAT) since 2001.

These two organizations mirror the mission of the BISSELL Pet Foundation, as they work together to better the lives of both children and animals. Through their partnership, dogs trained by West Michigan Therapy Dogs work with children being treated at the Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital through both animal assisted activities and animal assisted therapy. Animal assisted activities are used to lift spirits and be a source of encouragement while animal assisted therapy is used to set specific treatment guidelines and promote improvement in the patient’s life.

Join us at Gainey Field on October 24th from 12pm-3pm to support these wonderful organizations. There will be a games, food, prizes and a lot of candy! Attendees can dress in costume to be entered into the costume contest along with their furry friends. It will be a day of full of fun for the entire family to support great causes.

Check out this great video about the event from Meijer: