Facility Dogs at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Provide Emotional Support to Patients

Four facility dogs work full time at Cincinnati Children's Hospital, providing emotional support during procedures and encouraging physical activity among pediatric patients. The dogs are trained by Canine Companions and remain the property of the nonprofit after placement. Hospital staff members serve as handlers and cover costs for food and veterinary care through fundraising and grants.

A 2022 survey across 17 children's hospitals found that facility dogs helped normalize the hospital environment and build rapport with children and families. A 2021 study in the Journal of Pediatric Nursing reported reductions in pain and blood pressure among children who interacted with the animals.

Additional studies cited lower anxiety levels and improved heart and lung function after animal-assisted therapy sessions.

Handlers bathe the dogs frequently and sanitize equipment to reduce infection risk. Dogs remain outside isolation rooms except when a dying child requests their presence. On a recent morning, Labrador-golden retriever mix Hadley played with patients including 5-year-old Calvin Owens and 11-year-old Bethany Striggles.

Patients can request trading cards, bandanas, or send drawings to the dogs through hospital mailboxes. "These dogs are making a real difference," said Kerri Rodriguez, director of the Human-Animal Bond Lab at the University of Arizona.