Meet Agnes and Baskin, two adorable service dogs who bring joy to MUSC Shawn Jenkins Children’s Hospital’s patients. Baskin’s a Golden Retriever while Agnes is a Goldendoodle.
During their first week of work, they met the staff and the patients of Shawn Jenkins Children’s Hospital. They just started their journey as service dogs, but they already significantly impacted their community.
Agnes and Baskin underwent training to create a positive impact in a stressful environment, such as hospitals. They changed the lives of the patients remarkably, and everyone loves their presence in the medical facility.
It’s unfortunate that some children struggle with medical illnesses and need hospitalization, but these two charming pups do an excellent job of comforting patients in the hospital. They don’t only give hope to children and their families, but they also serve as a pillar of strength to the medical staff.
Agnes and Baskin are part of “Dogs for Joy,” a program under “Dunkin’ Joy in Childhood Foundation, which aims to provide joy to children struggling with illnesses or hunger. It’s an independent foundation under the famous Dunkin’ Donuts company. Through their “Dogs for Joy” program, canines visit hospitals to bring happiness to children battling different diseases.
According to the foundation’s website, the dogs are full-time employees or “in-residence” of the hospital where they’re assigned. They come to work daily with their handlers, and they become an integral part of the child’s treatment and medical procedures. The service dogs perform tasks to support the medical team’s goals, such as calming a kid during a medical process or walking with the child outside. What’s impressive is that these dogs also help the patients take their medicine or wear their hospital gown!
The foundation’s goal is to have more in-residence canines across the country. Currently, the foundation helps 12 children’s hospitals, and there are 15 in-residence dogs deployed. What a fantastic initiative for the children’s health and the dogs’ sense of purpose because they love helping humans.
Source: MUSC Children’s Health