CHOP Facility Dog Program

CHOP facility dog and patient When a patient needs a little extra support, they may benefit from a visit from a CHOP facility dog who can support patients with goal-oriented interventions.

These specially trained dogs work with Child Life staff members to help patients and families during hospitalization. The CHOP Facility Dog Program is a donor-funded program, and services are not billable to insurance.

How facility dogs can help

A facility dog can:

  • Motivate patients to move or ambulate after surgery
  • Demonstrate medication administration
  • Help with pain management
  • Comfort patients and families facing a chronic or life-changing illness
  • Help patients cope with the stress of hospitalization by providing opportunities for therapeutic expression

Meet our facility dogs

Meet Dilly, CHOP’s Full-Time Facility Dog

Hi, I’m Dilly!

I’m a: yellow Labrador.
I was trained by: Susquehanna Service Dogs.
My handler is: Child Life Specialist, Lizzy Olsen.
My favorite part of being a facility dog is: helping patients and families cope with new experiences while in the hospital.
Favorite hobby: Snuggling and sleeping.

Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia Adds Second Facility Dog, Nettle

Hi, I’m Nettle!

I’m a: yellow Labrador, too!
I was trained by: Susquehanna Service Dogs.
My handler is: Child Activity Coordinator, Danielle Stewart.
My favorite part of being a facility dog is: getting to interact with CHOP’s brave and strong patients.
Favorite hobby: Belly rubs and playing fetch!

Eligibility

To be eligible for a visit from a CHOP facility dog, patients must be:

  • Free from pet allergies
  • Having difficulty coping with hospitalization
  • Hospitalized for at least 3 days, with no anticipated discharge within the next 24 hours

Due to our Infection Prevention and Control standards, a patient is not eligible for a facility dog visit if they or their roommate are on contact isolation/precautions.

Request a visit

Requests for a visit from a facility dog are submitted by the patient’s primary child life specialist or bedside nurse.

Support the Facility Dog Program

Donations power all the therapeutic play and patient-centered care provided by the Child Life, Education and Creative Arts Therapy Department, including the CHOP Facility Dog Program. The Facility Dog Program, a part of the Gerald B. Shreiber Pet Therapy Program, relies on the generosity of donors because these unique services are not billable to insurance.

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