1 of 1
Story summary
- Full-time facility dogs are expanding across U.S. children’s hospitals, offering emotional support and encouraging movement.
- Hadley, a retriever, assisted Calvin Owens, Bethany Striggles and Aspen Franklin at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital on May 4 2026.
- Hospitals obtain dogs from nonprofits such as Canine Companions, which retain ownership while hospitals cover food, costs and follow rules.
- Research from 2021-2022 links facility-dog interactions to lower pain, reduced anxiety and decreased blood pressure in pediatric patients.
