Help support a facility dog at Brenner Children’s Hospital!
In February 2024, Trusty joined Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center as the first facility dog in our market. A Labrador-golden retriever cross, Trusty was trained and placed by Canine Companions, the largest provider of service dogs in the country and knows more than 40 tasks to help patients and individuals.
Evidence-based outcomes of having a full-time facility dog may be surprising to those not familiar with what they can do. Outcomes include:
- Increasing participation in therapy,
- Reducing pain and anxiety,
- Normalizing the hospital environment,
- Increasing patient satisfaction, and
- Decreasing patient length of stay.
Trusty’s veterinary care, food and other costs, just like the costs of a new facility dog, are all covered by generous donors like you!
It’s important to know that a facility dog is not the same as a therapy dog, Trusty’s handler Morgan Graham, LRT, CTRS, CARSS I, Recreation Therapy, Physical Rehabilitation pointed out. “Facility dogs are professionally trained in specific tasks to assist professionals working with clients in a hospital, school or court setting. Therapy dogs are certified pet dogs who provide comfort to groups of people.”
“Trusty helps patients reach their goals in inpatient physical rehabilitation and pediatric behavioral health,” Morgan said. “For example, patients work on their fine motor coordination and dexterity by holding and using different brushes to brush Trusty. He also enjoys playing fetch so patients can work on their dynamic standing balance, coordination and activity tolerance. And he can provide deep pressure therapy for patients who are anxious or stressed by laying across their lap.”
Make a donation at your local Great Clips location and help us bring a facility dog to the children at Brenner Children’s Hospital!
