Meet the therapy dogs who bring joy to Ottawa hospitals, facilities

Ottawa Therapy Dogs is marking its 25th anniversary of bringing joy to places like CHEO and Roger Neilson’s Children’s Hospice. CTV’s Peter Szperling reports.

A team of calm and friendly dogs visit various healthcare, educational and social facilities throughout Ottawa to bring joy and happiness to patients, families and staff.

Ottawa Therapy Dogs, a charitable organization, is marking its 25th anniversary this year.

“We currently have about 40 teams. And what do they do? They work Magic,” said Lorraine Douglas, operations manager, and a volunteer handler.

“When a therapy dog enters a facility or a room or any space, you automatically see smiles. And everybody deserves to smile no matter what they’re dealing with that day. And so, when the therapy dogs come in, they bring calm.”

Dogs visit with their human handler, offering cuddles or just a chance to share some time with a canine friend.

“Just releases the feel-good hormones and just maybe, you know, gives a little moment in that person’s day to feel a little more relaxed,” Douglas said. “Or you know, if it’s somebody in the hospital, to give them something just normal and a break from the routine of getting medical treatments and things like that.”

On Friday, CTV News Ottawa joined Finn, a golden retriever visiting Roger Neilson Children’s Hospice, and Copain, a standard poodle visiting a medical unit at CHEO.

“When I get to see him, always great for me,” says eight-year-old CHEO patient, Phoenix. His favourite part of spending time with Copain is “being able to actually pet him,” he says.

“It’s just a high point of the kids’ week to have a visit,” added Janet Corkery, child life specialist at the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO).

Copain’s human handler, Michel, enjoys their visits.

“Because we get to see the kids and we get to see patients elsewhere; and they bring a smile to their face and help calm people down,” said Copain’s human handler.

Douglas says Ottawa Therapy Dogs is looking for volunteers.

“We have a huge waitlist of facilities that would like to have a therapy dog team. And so continually through the year, we’re always recruiting new therapy dog teams,” Douglas added.

She says as the organization marks its 25th anniversary, it also has a fundraising goal of $25,000. To donate, visit this link: https://www.ottawatherapydogs.ca/donate-now.