“DR.heART Sr. Orelhas does not cure illnesses, he enchants difficult days with unconditional love. Every single visit is a gesture of presence, peace, and deep emotional relief.”

— SALEMA POMBA COLORIDA *
(Ramona Hartlieb)

The DR.heART initiative was founded with a dedicated mission:

providing emotional support to those facing advanced transitions, such as the patients of our partner hospices and the Make-A-Wish organization, which is specialized in children and in fulfilling their wishes for their final journey

We are providing targeted emotional support within hospices, care units, geriatric institutions, seamlessly connecting the neurobiology of affection with the pure emotional bond of canine companionship.

Our institutional visits are far more than casual recreational activities; they are highly structured interventions grounded in the science of emotional well-being and empathetic communication [user-provided-context]:

  • Immediate Emotional Comfort: The stabilizing presence of Sr. Orelhas actively lowers biological cortisol (stress) levels, measurably mitigating anxiety, fear, and deep-seated loneliness 
  • Memory Stimulation & Human Connection: Our visits awaken deep emotional memories, strengthening interpersonal bonds and driving cognitive stimulation in palliative & geriatric patients 
  • Sensations of Calm & Safety: dog assisted interactions promote neuromuscular relaxation, providing profound psychological relief and noticeably elevating clinical well-being

We guarantee a perfectly seamless, safe, and risk-free integration into your medical or residential establishment. Our operations strictly adhere to the highest institutional standards :

  • Rigorous Canine Hygiene & Health: Constant veterinary oversight, complete up-to-date vaccinations, and a meticulous sanitization protocol prior to every facility entry 
  • Pre-Evaluated Clinical Matching: Every session is kept compact, fully personalized, and carefully tailored to the specific energy levels, rhythms, and clinical needs of the patient or hospice environment 
  • Active Civil Liability Insurance: Providing complete legal, structural, and institutional protection for the hosting facility, staff, and third parties 
  • A Safe, Respectful, and Voluntary Environment:
    Absolute respect for the patient's individual autonomy, privacy, and free will-participation is entirely voluntary

    Strict Voluntary Commitment (No-

    Profit Clause)

    • All of our participating members operate on a strictly voluntary, non-profit basis
    • Our specialized services are 100% free of charge for public medical centers, social welfare nursing homes, and pediatric or geriatric care units 
    • Absolute Transparency: All monetary donations received are strictly and exclusively routed to support partner hospices or verified local animal welfare initiatives, such as APA Setúbal