Nobody enjoys being sick or being in a hospital-but at some point in our lives, we've all been under the weather and we might have to stay at a place like Med Center One. While being in a hospital isn't all that funthere is a unique group of volunteers who work like dogs and are trying to make the stay just a little easier and a little happier. Jason Torreano has the story.

"It adds a little extra happiness to the day when you're sitting here all day by yourself all day long," said Moses Bullbear, a Med Center One patient.

Patients like Moses get by with just a little help from our four legged friends. They can't prescribe drugs. They know nothing about insurance-but they have a way of just making you feel a little better.

"They just look at your, comfort you, lick you, make you feel better," said Bullbear.

A dozen of these canine companions and their two-legged owners make rounds at Med Center One every Tuesday and Thursday. It's all a part of pet therapy.

"Just last week we had Logan, who's a Burmese mountain dog," said Deb Kinzler, an escort with the program. "He's a 125 lb dog. He went into a little boy's room on the 6th floor and the little boy had stuffed animals he was squeaking and 100 lbs of that 125 lbs dog was on the bed, and that little boy just squealed and giggled. He just loved it and then he turned his light off. It was night night time and he wanted Logan to sleep with him."

Doctors and medicine might heal the body-but these hospital volunteers heal something just as important: the spirit.

Lyle Kruschwitz is a Med Center One patient and says the dogs brighten his day. "I think they're an essential part of man's existence here on Earth. There's something cheerful about man's best friend."

Cheerful-and something happy about these underpaid, overworked hospital mainstays.

"The kids love 'em and it brightens everybody's day, including mine," said Kinzler. "It's fun and it's therapeutic for everybody."


One of the dogs who still makes rounds has been working at the hospital since the program began 10 years ago. watch the video | save this article / add to your favorites list