Norton Healthcare celebrates the life and legacy of facility dog Juno

Juno, a 66-pound blonde with four paws, a sassy smile and a fondness for carrying stuffed animals in her mouth, spent six years providing comfort and companionship to patients and staff members at Norton Healthcare in Louisville, Ky. Her service ended too soon after the 10-year-old pup was diagnosed with cancer; complications led to her death on April 21. However, her legacy lives on.

Juno was a member of the Heel, Dog, Heal program, part of the Norton Healthcare Foundation and Norton Children’s Hospital Foundation. “Juno just had this amazing ability to read the room,” said Heather Stohr, manager of child life at Norton Children’s and Juno’s handler. “She always seemed to know who needed her most. I am so grateful that I got to work alongside her every day helping to support patients, families and our medical teams.”

The program now includes 12 dogs who work across multiple facilities. One member of the team? One of Juno’s daughters, Yarie, who frequents the hallways of Norton Children’s Medical Center, bringing smiles and cuddles to the patients and staff there — just like mom would have wanted.