Texas children’s hospital adds to its pack of facility dogs
Children’s Memorial Hermann Health Hospital
Houston, Texas
Children's Memorial Hermann Hospital has expanded its facility dog program by welcoming two new canine companions, Stephan and Boris, to its pediatric care team. Stephan, a golden retriever, and Boris, a lab-golden cross, have joined the hospital after completing six months of intensive training and mastering over 40 commands. The program, launched in 2019, now includes five dogs that focus on emotional and medical support across pediatric units. Stephan will work in the pediatric heart center while Boris will assist in pediatric oncology and outpatient clinics.
“Stephan and Boris will perform a multitude of tasks to educate and comfort patients,” said Katie Rehm, certified child life specialist at Children’s Memorial Hermann Hospital. “This includes mimicking practices such as laying in the CT scanner to demonstrate to patients that procedures are not as scary as they seem.” Rachel Graves, also a certified child life specialist, added, “With their training and their temperaments, they're able to connect with patients in ways people can't always do,” emphasizing the unique emotional bond these dogs foster between patients and care teams. The hospital celebrated their arrival with a graduation ceremony, marking their official induction into the facility dog team.