Meet the Therapy Dog
The Munson Manor team welcomed Decker, a male chocolate labrador retriever, to the facility in May 2022! This was made possible through the generosity of our community. Donors stepped up to help raise nearly $10,000 for Decker's training and care.
In just a few short months of "employment," Decker has already helped to decrease loneliness, promote healing, and bring much-needed joy and connection to all who walk through Munson Manor's doors!
Help Choose a Name
Munson Manor staff selected five potential names for the therapy dog and we need your help choosing a winner! When you make a donation between now and April 15, 2022, you will have the option to cast a vote for your favorite name.
UPDATE: Our naming contest is now over. The winning name is DECKER. Thank you to everyone who cast a vote!
- Option 1: Angel: With its loving, joyful presence, our therapy dog will be an angel watching over the patients and families of Munson Medical Center.
- Option 2: Asher: The Hebrew meaning of the name "Asher" is Blessed and Lucky. At Munson Manor, our goal is to be a blessing and a cherished resource to the northern Michigan community!
- Option 3: Dakota: This name comes from the Native American tribe of the Sioux and means "friend" or "ally." Our therapy dog will be a friend to all, from patients seeking to companionship to family members needing a lift in spirits.
- Option 4: Decker: James Decker Munson, MD, opened the Northern Michigan Asylum in Traverse City in 1885. The beautifully restored structure that now serves as Munson Manor was once part of the historic campus. Naming our therapy dog "Decker" serves as a tribute to Dr. Munson's humane approach to the treatment of patients with mental illness, his philosophy that "beauty is therapy," and his belief that peaceful, tranquil surroundings are a tonic to sooth a troubled mind.
- Option 5: Greeter: Our therapy dog will welcome all to Munson Manor. Whether you are a patient seeking rest after a long day of treatment, or someone traveling far to be near a loved one, "Greeter" will be all-in to welcome guests.
Your support today provides Munson Manor guests with the greatest gift of all: peace and comfort during difficult days. Thank you!