Moments of joy are common whenever hospital facility dogs show up to spend time with patients, and their ranks are growing at children's hospitals across the United States.
Facility Dogs Provide More Than Comfort
These specially trained, full-time working dogs offer emotional support during stressful procedures, motivate children to move, and make hospitals seem less scary. Unlike typical therapy dogs brought in by volunteers, facility dogs are part of the medical team.
According to Kerri Rodriguez, director of the Human-Animal Bond Lab at the University of Arizona, research shows that even short interactions with facility dogs can improve children's well-being, decrease pain, and reduce stress indicators like cortisol levels and blood pressure. "These dogs are making a real difference," she said.
Growing Programs Nationwide
Although no official count exists, the annual Facility Dog Summit saw attendance nearly double from 2024 to 2025, indicating program expansion. Children's hospitals account for most of this growth. Canine Assistants in Georgia has placed over 80 dogs through its children's hospital initiative.
Established programs exist at Mount Sinai Kravis Children's Hospital in New York, Norton Children's in Louisville, Kentucky, and St. Louis Children's Hospital. New programs continue to emerge, such as Johns Hopkins Children's Center in Maryland, which introduced its first two facility dogs in March.
How the Programs Work
Hospitals typically obtain dogs from nonprofits like Canine Companions, which breed, raise, and train them before placing them with hospital staff. The dogs live and work with their handlers. Hospitals cover costs such as food and veterinary care, often through fundraising or grants.
Studies support the benefits. A 2022 study coauthored by Rodriguez surveyed 17 children's hospitals, finding that facility dogs provided comfort, built rapport, and normalized the hospital environment. A 2021 study in the Journal of Pediatric Nursing concluded that animal-assisted therapies helped control pain and blood pressure in children and teens.
A Day in the Life
Hadley, a Labrador-golden retriever mix at Cincinnati Children's Hospital, works with handler Schellie Scott. Her day includes patient visits, breaks, and playtime. The dogs appear on hospital television shows, have mailboxes for letters, and trading cards with stats like breed and birthday.
Patients like Aspen Franklin, a 14-year-old fighting an immune disorder, find comfort in Hadley's presence. "She has a calming presence," Aspen said. For Calvin Owens, a 5-year-old with severe arthritis, playing fetch on the patio was a victory. "He's such a strong little man," Scott said.
Hygiene and Safety
Facility dogs are allowed in more sensitive areas than volunteer dogs. Hadley is bathed twice a month because she works in the cancer and blood diseases unit. Handlers use easily cleaned leashes and balls, and people sanitize hands before and after contact. If a patient is in isolation, the dog stays outside the room, except for dying children where comfort outweighs germ concerns.
The dogs eventually tire and retreat to their "lair" for treats and rest. Above Hadley's bed is a bulletin board covered with drawings, photos, and notes, including one that reads: "Thank you for being my BEST FRIEND."
