Vanderbilt Health uses three facility dogs — Norman, Squid and Velour — to support patients emotionally and physically during medical treatments at the Pi Beta Phi Rehabilitation Institute and Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital. Therapy dogs in these medical settings are associated with reduced anxiety, stress, and symptoms of depression, enhancing both mood and emotional well-being for patients and healthcare workers alike.

The dogs work alongside clinicians in therapy and pediatric care, meeting patients where clinical techniques alone may fall short and offering moments of calm during evaluations and procedures. This type of engagement not only comforts patients but also fosters social connections that are crucial to the healing process.

Norman, described as a 9-year-old golden Labrador, has become a steady presence during neurological motor skills evaluations. Chrissy Durrough Lugge, board-certified neurological clinical specialist and physical therapist, said of a patient assisted by Norman, “He put on a brave face and worked through all the tasks.” The patient’s engagement with Norman helped transform a difficult session into measurable progress. Facility dogs like Norman undergo extensive specialized socialization and task training, learning dozens of commands to ensure their effective integration into healthcare settings.

Squid, a 7-year-old black Labrador/golden retriever mix, was introduced to pediatric care in February 2020 and has been credited with easing anxiety during procedures. One vivid moment recorded by staff noted that a patient smiled for the first time in days when Squid entered the room. Janet Cross, former administrative director of Patient- and Family-Centered Care at Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt, framed the program as part of broader efforts to bring new tools into healing: “We keep our fingers on the pulse of what is new and innovative that can be used to engage people in healing.” This innovative approach includes establishing formal policies and designated program liaisons to ensure a robust framework for therapy dog integration.

Velour, a 3-year-old yellow Labrador retriever who joined the Canine Clinicians team in August 2024 and was born in July 2022, marked a lighter moment for patients and staff when the unit celebrated her third birthday with a party attended by patients and clinicians. Facility dog coordinator Kaylor Glassman said, “Velour has a special ability to match the energy of each person she meets.” Such interactions further highlight the importance of trained therapy dogs in creating a positive environment for healing.

Program coordinators play a central role in integrating the dogs into clinical workflows. Leslie Grissim, a facility dog coordinator, reflected on Norman’s bedside manner: “There was something grounding and gentle in his presence.” Coordinators manage where and when dogs appear, matching the animal’s temperament and training to the clinical need and the patient’s condition. This careful planning is essential to maximize the benefits therapy dogs provide during evaluations, therapy sessions, and procedures.

Vanderbilt Health partners with organizations to sustain the program. Canine Companions, a nonprofit that trains service dogs for health care settings, is listed as a partner in the program’s materials, and Mars Petcare’s BETTER CITIES FOR PETS program collaborated to establish Squid’s role at Monroe Carell. Those collaborations helped place Squid and others into hospital spaces where handlers and clinical teams could work together to shape therapy sessions. How can healthcare facilities implement similar programs with therapy or facility dogs is a crucial consideration for expanding such initiatives.

The facility dogs are used across inpatient and outpatient settings at the Vanderbilt Bill Wilkerson Center’s Pi Beta Phi Rehabilitation Institute and Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital, appearing during evaluations, therapy sessions, and procedures. Staff describe routine interactions — Norman taking advantage of cuddle opportunities when patients lie on plinths, or Squid helping a 10-year-old in intensive care feel safe and regain control during a procedure — as integral to the dogs’ clinical contributions. Clinicians say the dogs create openings for engagement that can accelerate rehabilitation or ease a child’s experience of care. Durrough Lugge recalled how a patient’s response to the animal changed the tenor of a session: “That’s exactly what I needed.” Handlers and coordinators continue to refine schedules and placements so the dogs can be deployed where they are most effective.

The program’s public profile has grown with features in Vanderbilt’s own communications; the hospital’s site has highlighted individual dogs and milestone events such as Velour’s birthday. The dogs’ presence underscores a wider trend in health care to include trained animals as part of multidisciplinary treatment teams, paving the way for other facilities to adopt similar programs by ensuring high standards of training and evaluation for the dogs involved.

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