Growing facility dog program starts new chapter at M Health Fairview Masonic Children’s Hospital
They have big pawprints to fill, but the new facility dogs at M Health Fairview Masonic Children’s Hospital have shown they’re up to the challenge.
Meet Fern, a 3-year-old yellow Labrador-golden retriever mix, and Inka, a 2-year old Labrador. Fern started work at our hospital in the spring and Inka in early fall, supporting our youngest patients and their families as part of the B.A.R.K. (Brave and Resilient Kids) Buddies NutriSource Facility Dog Program. They are partnered with handlers and Certified Child Life Specialists Phylicia Petit and Samantha Bonner.
Our facility dog program launched in 2019 following a $250,000 startup gift from NutriSource Pet Foods, a KLN Family Brands company. Our first facility dog, Rocket, retired in December 2021 after two years of service. Now, the program has expanded to two dogs and handlers thanks to the continued support of NutriSource Pet Foods and a second $250,000 gift from the Row The Boat Fleck Family Fund, created by University of Minnesota Head Football Coach P.J. Fleck and his wife, Heather Fleck. Both donations support all costs associated with the facility dogs and the staff supporting the program.
The facility dog program at our children’s hospital was the first of its kind in Minnesota and is now one of just a handful in the state.
Facility dogs in our children’s hospital undergo advanced training that sets them apart from other therapy animals and makes them uniquely suited to a full-time role in a healthcare setting. Alongside their handlers, they can take part in special therapeutic interventions with a child, which may include encouraging a child to walk after surgery, helping a child learn to take medicine, modeling steps of procedures, providing comfort and support during painful moments, or reducing anxiety before or during a stressful procedure.
For example, a facility dog and handler can teach a child what it means to have an IV placed – and then serve as a calming distraction in the hospital room during the procedure. The addition of a second new facility dog and trained handler has expanded the positive coping potential for children and families under our care.
“Facility dogs offer our patients a unique form of support,” said Rachel Calvert, senior manager for Child-Family Life Services. “Fern and Inka have this ability to immediately understand and connect with a patient with no need for words. They’re a calm and supportive presence, helping patients achieve both their clinical and non-clinical goals alongside their handlers.”
Fern and Inka hail from Can Do Canines, a Minnesota-based nonprofit dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for people with disabilities by creating mutually beneficial partnerships with specially trained dogs. Since its founding in 1989, Can Do Canines has provided more than 800 service dogs to adults and children who live with disabilities that involve mobility challenges, hearing loss or deafness, seizure disorders, diabetes complicated by hypoglycemia unawareness, or childhood autism.
"We are thrilled with our partnership with M Health Fairview Masonic Children's Hospital,” said Can Do Canines Executive Director Jeff Johnson. “Our dogs are almost all focused on transforming the life of one specific person, providing freedom, independence, and peace of mind. We're excited that these special facility dogs will actually have the privilege of serving hundreds – maybe thousands – of children and their families in the coming years. It's an honor to be part of this."
Since coming to the hospital earlier this year, Fern and Inka have worked directly with over 500 patients, and their presence around the hospital has been felt by many more.
Fern is also a regular on “ZTV,” our hospital’s in-house television channel that broadcasts more than 30 shows monthly for patients including many live, interactive programs, from the Zucker Family Suite and Broadcast Studio. Fern and her secondary handler, Certified Child Life Specialist Theresa Bunkers, put on a regular variety show. They’ve led patients in themed crafts, including paw painting, and had patients call in with their ideas. Bunkers even painted Fern’s nails during one episode, letting kids choose the color.
“Fern and Inka aren’t able to visit patients who are in isolation, so we’re always considering creative ways to increase access to them,” said Calvert. “All of our inpatient rooms are equipped so kids can watch and interact with Fern through our broadcast studio programming.”
When she’s not on television, Fern is assigned to the hospital’s cardiovascular intensive care unit (CVICU) and other inpatient areas with her primary handler, Petit. Inka is assigned to our medical/surgical units, where there are children with a variety of injuries or illnesses who need inpatient care. Both dogs work full-time at the children’s hospital.
Find out how NutriSource’s Superstar Giving Program supports the B.A.R.K. Buddies NutriSource Facility Dog Program at M Health Fairview Masonic Children’s Hospital.
