Two therapy dogs became critical to Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, and their work gave a whole new meaning to man’s best friend. After almost a decade of bringing comfort and tail wags to patients, the two pups are retiring.On Wednesday, the hospital threw a party for Lecia and Chevy. The two 10-year-old golden retriever lab mixes have worked at the hospital since 2016. According to Lecia’s handler, Kerri Birkett, Lecia was Cincinnati Children’s Hospital’s first facility dog, and Chevy came a few months later. “She was calming presence during blood draws, different exams, and different procedures,” Birkett said. Chevy and his handler, Katie Bradford, have spent the last nine years working in the inpatient units at Burnet Campus. “When kids had to stay in the hospital, and they wanted to see a dog, Chevy is the one they would get to see,” Bradford said. “We would visit kids who were here for end-of-life care to things just as simple as having to stay in the hospital overnight and kind of everything in between.”Within mere seconds of meeting Lecia and Chevy, you realize they were just what the doctor ordered. “It’s a different kind of support and healing that dogs give,” Birkett said. “His big thing is we would put him in bed with a kid, and they would lay there while the child pet him,” Bradford said.Chevy and Lecia are hanging up their leashes after nine years of 40-hour work weeks and doggone good memories. “He is going to be living his best life,” Bradford said.”I have enjoyed the past nine years, and I’m going to miss it,” Birkett said. It is hard to quantify their impact or the number of lives they have touched, but for Lecia and Chevy, they were just working like a dog. In their retirement, Lecia will play outside and nap. She can’t get her nose off working, so she might pop up at events. As for Chevy, he will be changing hears and following a lifelong passion of being a guard dog and protecting his yard from falling leaves, squirrels, and bunnies. To support the Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Facility Dog program, click here.
Two therapy dogs became critical to Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, and their work gave a whole new meaning to man’s best friend.
After almost a decade of bringing comfort and tail wags to patients, the two pups are retiring.
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On Wednesday, the hospital threw a party for Lecia and Chevy. The two 10-year-old golden retriever lab mixes have worked at the hospital since 2016.
According to Lecia’s handler, Kerri Birkett, Lecia was Cincinnati Children’s Hospital’s first facility dog, and Chevy came a few months later.
“She was calming presence during blood draws, different exams, and different procedures,” Birkett said.
Chevy and his handler, Katie Bradford, have spent the last nine years working in the inpatient units at Burnet Campus.
“When kids had to stay in the hospital, and they wanted to see a dog, Chevy is the one they would get to see,” Bradford said. “We would visit kids who were here for end-of-life care to things just as simple as having to stay in the hospital overnight and kind of everything in between.”
Within mere seconds of meeting Lecia and Chevy, you realize they were just what the doctor ordered.
“It’s a different kind of support and healing that dogs give,” Birkett said.
“His big thing is we would put him in bed with a kid, and they would lay there while the child pet him,” Bradford said.
Chevy and Lecia are hanging up their leashes after nine years of 40-hour work weeks and doggone good memories.
“He is going to be living his best life,” Bradford said.
“I have enjoyed the past nine years, and I’m going to miss it,” Birkett said.
It is hard to quantify their impact or the number of lives they have touched, but for Lecia and Chevy, they were just working like a dog.
In their retirement, Lecia will play outside and nap. She can’t get her nose off working, so she might pop up at events.
As for Chevy, he will be changing hears and following a lifelong passion of being a guard dog and protecting his yard from falling leaves, squirrels, and bunnies.
To support the Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Facility Dog program, click here.
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