Newest Member Of Nutrisource Facility Dog Program Visits Patients At Lurie Children’s Hospital Of Chicago

(PRESS RELEASE) PERHAM, MN — NutriSource Pet Foods, one of America’s most beloved and trusted pet brands, announced that Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago is the latest recipient of a facility dog because of financial support provided by NutriSource and its parent company, KLN Family Brands. Lurie Children’s is the fifth children’s hospital nationwide to receive funding from NutriSource for their animal assisted therapy programs.

Hawk, a 16-month-old golden retriever, was raised at Canine Assistants in Atlanta before arriving at Lurie Children’s in mid-July. Hospital facility dogs are highly trained dogs that are typically cared for by medical professionals and work each day with young patients to reduce anxiety, encourage treatment and offer a calm, comforting presence during hospital stays.

The NutriSource Facility Dog Program at Lurie Children’s was made possible by a $250,000, five-year commitment from the company. Hawk is the first-ever facility dog at Lurie Children’s. NutriSource also supports animal assisted therapy programs at M Health Fairview University of Minnesota Masonic Children’s Hospital, Boston Children’s, Children’s Mercy Kansas City and Sanford Children’s Fargo.

“Hawk has already made an incredible impact on patient’s and family’s hospitalizations. He makes it so easy to elevate the emotional safety needs of patients as we address the complex stressors that come with being hospitalized in a pediatric hospital,” said Natalie Sell Certified Child Life Specialist and Facility Dog Handler at Lurie Children’s. “From post-processing difficult hospital experiences to prepping kids for procedures, Hawk’s ability to provide a calm and supportive presence has been invaluable for my child life practice.”

NutriSource’s commitment means that families will never receive a bill for this important service.

“Hospital stays can be scary and hard for anyone, especially kids. The unconditional love of a dog can help make the experience a little bit easier,” said KLN Family Brands President Chase Rasmussen. “Not only do dogs bring comfort and compassion during a difficult time, but they can also play an important role in healing and progress. We’re thrilled to extend the NutriSource Facility Dog Program to the patients, families and staff at Lurie Children’s.”

About NutriSource Pet Foods

NutriSource is a line of premium pet food and treat products manufactured by Tuffy’s Pet Foods and Tuffy’s Pet Treats, subsidiaries of KLN Enterprises, Inc., a third-generation family owned company based in Perham, MN. Tuffy’s Pet Foods has specialized in the manufacturing of pet food and treats since 1964. NutriSource has a long history of investing in the health and well-being of pets throughout the world. Today, NutriSource offers a variety of different dog and cat food products across their four lines of NutriSource, NutriSource PureVita, NutriSource Element Series and NutriSource Choice. NutriSource product offerings include kibble, wet, treats and toppers. For more information, visit https://nutrisourcepetfoods.com/.

About KLN Enterprises, Inc. dba KLN Family Brands

A third-generation family-owned company, KLN Family Brands is headquartered in Perham, MN and is comprised of Tuffy’s Pet Foods and Tuffy’s Treat Company, manufacturers of NutriSource and Kenny’s Candy & Confections. Tuffy’s has been proudly producing quality pet foods since 1964. Kenny’s Candy & Confections, established in 2015, produces great snack brands that include Wiley Wallaby and Sweet Chaos. For more information www.klnfamilybrands.com.

About Lurie Children’s

Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago is a nonprofit organization committed to providing access to exceptional care for every child. It is ranked as one of the nation’s top children’s hospitals by U.S. News & World Report. Lurie Children’s is the pediatric training ground for Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. Supported by philanthropy, the Patrick M. Magoon Institute for Healthy Communities is the hub for all Lurie.

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