TAMPA, Fla. — A new robotic pets program puts a new twist on pet adoption.


What You Need To Know

  • Clifton Pease honored as Tampa Bay Lightning Community Hero works to expand robotic pets program
  • The Lightning donated $50,000 to the Chapters Health Foundation. The money will be put toward the robotic pet companion program, a new element of the Valor Program
  • The plush, interactive pets that purr and bark could be just what an Alzheimer’s patient, first responder or veteran needs

“Ideally, these will add quality of life to the individuals that we’re serving for hospice care,” explains Clifton Pease, Valor Program Service Manager with Chapters Health System.

Pease was recently honored as a Tampa Bay Lightning Community Hero. The Lightning donated $50,000 to the Chapters Health Foundation. Pease says the money will be put toward the robotic pet companion program, a new element of the Valor Program.

The plush, interactive pets that purr and bark could be just what an Alzheimer’s patient, first responder or veteran needs.

“You begin to pet, the cat purrs and you can feel the cat purring,” explains Dr. Reginald Riley, Vice President of Support Services & Patient Experience with Chapters Health System.

He says some patients with Chapters Health can now experience enhanced care by adopting one of the furry, therapeutic companions.

“A lot of the research shows that patients have certain symptoms like isolation, loneliness, depression, things like that. So we were looking for an innovative, creative way to enhance the patient experience,” said Riley.

The program that started in December 2022 is already having an impact, Riley said.

“We do have families that said that they’ve seen their loved one just shine, just a totally different person because of the way they interact with the pet,” said Riley.

Interaction with the community and service to the country is why the Tampa Bay Lightning recently honored Pease as a Community Hero.

Before Pease started with Chapters Health, he was in JROTC, then enlisted in the United States Air Force. He was at MacDill Air Force Base four years and deployed overseas after the 9/11 attacks.

Pease is now dedicated to serving those who have served the country. The veteran says he will use $50,000 donated to Chapters Health Foundation by the Lightning to go expand the robotic companion pets program.

Pease, a former military firefighter, wants to make sure help is there for those needing calm when it comes to dealing with PTSD or a terminal illness. He hopes growing this program and reaching out to veterans and first responders makes a difference.

“It means the world to me to improve somebody’s life,” said Pease.