New facility dog joins child life team at American Family Children’s Hospital in Madison has added two facility dogs, bringing its Canine Health and Medical Pals Program to a team of five dogs to assist patients and families.

The additions expand the hospital’s in‑house facility dog program, integrating trained dogs into clinical care to help children cope with procedures and the stress of hospitalization. Research shows that the recognized benefits of therapy dogs in hospital settings provide significant emotional and physical benefits, such as reduced anxiety and improved mood, which can be crucial for young patients facing medical challenges. Staff say the animals work with clinical teams to provide comfort during medical interventions and routine visits.

Jimmy, a two‑year‑old male mixed‑breed that is half Labrador and half golden retriever, began working in July 2024 and is assigned to the universal care unit. Cash, described as a two‑year‑old male mixed‑breed (half golden retriever, a quarter Labrador and a quarter golden retriever‑poodle mix), joined the team in April 2025 and focuses on assisting nutrition patients. A variety of surveys and reports indicate that hospital-based animal‑assisted or pet therapy programs have been growing in recent years.

Child life specialist Katrina Anderson and clinical nutritionist Jackie Dioszegi — both with UW Health Kids — are among the staff who work alongside the facility dogs as part of patient care. The dogs are intended to support the Child Life team in delivering goal‑directed interventions that help children manage anxiety and cooperate with treatments. With evidence suggesting that animal-assisted interventions can improve overall patient well-being, the program’s integration into healthcare settings is becoming increasingly vital.

“They’re an extension of the handler, which is an employee of the Children’s Hospital, so they’re in the rooms during procedures, during medical interventions, during treatments, and during those difficult discussions, too,” said Brianna Peterson, canine program coordinator. Peterson expresses enthusiasm about the CHAMPs program and notes that the dogs work full‑time and are funded by philanthropy.

The two newest dogs join the existing CHAMPs roster to form a five‑dog team that hospital staff deploy across units to support patients and families. According to WKOW, the CHAMPs dogs differ from the Caring Canines volunteer program, which focuses on uplifting social visits; the CHAMPs dogs are described as working full‑time and as “an extension of the handler, which is an employee of the Children’s Hospital,” and they are present during procedures and difficult discussions.

Canine Assistants, a non‑profit that professionally trains dogs for health care settings, is listed among the organizations connected to the program, providing dogs trained to operate in clinical environments. Additional general information about facility dogs in pediatric care is available from various healthcare and academic sources.

The animals assist with coping strategies during procedures, support nutrition interventions, and help reduce the emotional burden on patients and families during difficult conversations. Beyond immediate bedside work, studies indicate that therapy animals help diminish loneliness and improve sleep quality for pediatric patients, further enhancing their healthcare experience.

Brianna Peterson oversees the CHAMPs initiative as canine program coordinator and serves as the hospital’s point person for training and integrating the facility dogs into clinical workflows. Her role includes coordinating handlers, scheduling dog participation in units, and ensuring each visit aligns with patient care goals.

Staff framed the expansion as a response to patient needs and community support, with Jimmy and Cash filling specific clinical roles: Jimmy in universal care and Cash supporting nutrition‑focused interventions. The hospital reported that the dogs help both patients and families by offering comfort and supporting staff efforts to complete necessary procedures with less distress, which is particularly important in pediatric settings.

Source

Original reporting: view the original article.