Heel, Dog, Heal

The Heel, Dog, Heal facility dog program at Norton Healthcare and Norton Children’s provides highly trained dogs and handlers to give comfort and support to patients and families during their time of need.

Facility dogs are specially trained, employed staff members who partner with a handler to work in a health care or educational setting. The facility dogs and their handlers at Norton Healthcare and Norton Children’s received extensive and specialized training in order to partner together to provide comfort and support to patients and families.

Research shows that full-time, trained facility dogs can motivate a patient to be more mobile, lend a paw during distressing or painful procedures, encourage socialization and offer a calming presence during episodes of pain and/or anxiety. Our special dogs also assist in creating an environment that offers unconditional love and acceptance.