Children's Hospitals Expand Use of Full-Time Emotional Support Dogs to Aid Young Patients
Children's hospitals across the United States are increasingly incorporating full-time emotional support dogs into their care teams to help young patients cope with the stress and anxiety of medical treatments. These specially trained facility dogs, such as Hadley at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, provide comfort and motivation to children undergoing difficult procedures. Unlike volunteer therapy dogs, these dogs are full-time staff members, living and working with their handlers. Research indicates that interactions with these dogs can significantly improve children's well-being, reduce pain, and lower stress indicators like cortisol levels and blood pressure. The trend is growing, with more hospitals adopting these programs, supported by organizations like Canine Assistants and Canine Companions, which provide the dogs and training. 
