Facility dogs are special members of the health care team, dedicated to helping children understand and cope with their medical experiences. Hospital dogs provide pediatric patients with medical play, education, and emotional support, reducing anxiety and discomfort.

Scope of goal-oriented work:

• Works with patients who Child Life sees during their assigned service, including oncology
• Helps with practicing walking and encourages motivation
• Procedural preparation and support
• Physical or occupational therapy co-treatment sessions
• End of life or bereavement situations

Training of hospital dogs

Facility dogs undergo extensive education to assist in enhancing client outcomes. Dolly Pawton, a facility dog at Marshfield Children’s Hospital, comes from Canine Assistants in Georgia. There she completed a year-long internship at a children’s hospital. Marshfield Children’s Hospital is one of only two children’s hospitals in Wisconsin with a dedicated facility dog.

Dolly’s handlers, certified Child Life specialists McKenzie Tischauser, Lindsey Welch and Heidi Giese, underwent an educational program and on-site training in Atlanta, Georgia from Canine Assistants. Dolly is a member of the Child Life team and is treated like an employee. Wherever her handler goes for their work, Dolly is allowed to go. She went through orientation, is required to take breaks and is only allowed to work 40 hours a week.

“When Dolly’s leash is on, she is working,” said Heidi Giese, Child Life manager. “Dolly has been a great addition to the team and aligns with our work around building skills around emotional safety.”

How child life and facility dogs use medical play

Different from pet therapy, facility dogs and their trained handlers follow a goal-directed program. They use medical play and other evidence-based techniques to help patients cope, heal and achieve treatment goals.

At Marshfield Children’s Hospital, Child Life specialists assess if a child’s care plan benefits from Dolly’s assistance.

“The dog is an extension of the handler, our trained Child Life specialists,” said McKenzie Tischauser, facility dog handler from Child Life. “We will assess patient needs and treatment goals as we build her patient load.”

Goal-oriented therapy and play includes:

• Encouraging movement to improve gross motor skills and cognitive stimulation: Rolling a ball back and forth with the dog.
• Improving physical movement and strength: Walking together down the hall.
• Understanding what to expect during a procedure: Medical play to prepare and understand a procedure to reduce anxiety and discomfort.

Additionally, hospital dogs can soothe patients through many procedures, including IV placement, blood draws and positioning for imaging. Because of her experience in a hospital environment, Dolly knows not to disrupt tubes or wires and is calm despite any of the sights or sounds. Her bond-based education dictates that she read each situation and make decisions on how best to proceed. Sometimes it’s simply a paw on a patient’s bed—other times, she senses a patient requires more affection.

“Dolly just seems to know which patients she should be laying on top of and who needs that comfort right then—it’s really impressive that every single time it’s exactly what that patient wanted and needed,” said Lindsey Welch, certified Child Life specialist and trained facility dog handler.

Community contributions support Dolly at Marshfield Children’s

This program is possible at Marshfield Children’s through funding by Christmas in July. Their efforts support the cost of the dog, staff training, and updates to the facility. Pet Supplies Plus in Marshfield donates services for weekly grooming and bath sessions and additional in-kind donations for special events.

Support Dolly’s incredible work by donating online at www.marshfieldclinic.org/giving. Select CMNH and comment “Facility dog” to contribute to her care and training.