St. Jude facility dogs are more than just a companion for patients and families

When a child is facing a difficult day of treatment, comfort can arrive in unexpected ways. Sometimes, it comes with a cold nose and a wagging tail. 

At St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital®, through the Paws at Play program, facility dogs work in collaboration with clinical teams to help children cope with treatment, ease anxiety and help them simply be kids. They also support the patient's family.

Shawn Brasher, director of Child Life and Music Therapy at St. Jude, is one of the handlers for Chocolate Chip (CC), a golden retriever who is part of the Paws at Play program. Brasher said these specially trained dogs help children tackle difficult moments, whether that's finding the courage to take medicine, staying calm during a procedure or opening up about fears and feelings. The dogs, Brasher said, become part of the care experience in ways that are tailored to each department's needs.

“One of the biggest impacts is the sense of normalcy and comfort the dogs bring. We'll go into a room, and CC will jump right up on the bed so the patient can pet her,” Brasher said. 

Paws at Play began in 2019 in Child Life with two facility dogs, Puggle and Huckleberry. Today, the program has expanded to all Psychosocial Services and counts four facility dogs, each with two handlers and each working with different teams across the hospital.

CC works closely with Child Life/Music Therapy and Psychology teams, but she and her two handlers receive referrals from and work closely with multiple disciplines. She can support procedural preparation, coping and diagnostic education. Brasher said he works with CC with leukemia, hematology and bone marrow transplant patients, many of whom spend extended periods in the hospital. Often, during their visits, Brasher and CC, who he said has a chill temperament, aim to normalize the environment and give families a chance to relax. 

“You can see the difference almost immediately. The dog creates opportunities for interaction and gives patients and families something positive to focus on during a difficult time. Whether we're helping a child prepare for a procedure or take medicine, supporting a family through a challenging moment or just visiting, the dogs help make the hospital feel a little less like a hospital,” he said. 

Besides CC, the other dogs in the program are Snuggle, Rose and Rosalie. Each dog has a unique role. 

Snuggle, who usually carries a toy in her mouth, works with radiation oncology, diagnostic imaging and brain and solid tumor patients. She's especially helpful in the mock MRI area at St. Jude, where she helps young patients prepare for scans. 

Rose works with the social work teams and St. Jude Imagine Academy by Chili’s. When in the Imagine Academy, she helps students stay engaged in learning, even incorporating activities into lessons. Rose not only works with patients, but she often works with caregivers when she teams up with her social work handler.

Rosalie is part of the Resilience Center and works alongside a chaplain and a social worker, providing care to the St. Jude employees.

“Rosalie knows who needs attention and who doesn’t,” Brasher said. “She will go and she will lean in on them, and it’s really cool to stand in the back behind the scenes and watch that happen.”