It all started with Bruce in February 2006 and this February marked my 20th year volunteering at CHLA with my dogs. April is a month of milestones as well. On April 1st CHLA celebrated their 125 year anniversary, April 16th we will be celebrating 25 years of dog therapy at CHLA and April 20th Willow celebrates 10 years volunteering at CHLA. What better way to celebrate it than a visit to CHLA on the evening of February 6th. While visiting patients on the 4th floor of the Anderson building, we met a nurse that said she had a visit with a dog when she was a patient years ago. She proceeded to show me a picture of her with the dog she met. It was my boy, Gordon!! Of course, she had to have a new photo with my newest volunteer George!! The impact dogs have on patients, staff and families at CHLA is priceless and very touching when I hear stories like this one. 

The dog therapy team currently has 126 active volunteer teams. In 2025 they completed 2,450 unique shifts. Had 123,260 interactions at CHLA The dog teams averaged 1,247 visits with patients per month, 201 special request visits per month, 49 rehab visits per month, 2,950 visits with family members per month and 4,137 visits with staff per month. This was 22,609 visits mora than last year!!

Also, in 2025 a pilot program visiting the Emergency Department was started and its success has led to the ED becoming a regular stop for our dog volunteers. This year the dog program is starting a 1-year pilot study on the feasibility and efficacy of dog therapy support to patients, families, and staff. And they are working on implementing a dog tuck-in service.

For all the reasons listed above and so many more that I don’t have the room to mention, please consider donating to this program. We are funded entirely on private donations and every little bit helps. If you or anyone you know is interested in volunteering at CHLA with their dog, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me for more information.

Many thanks, Dorothy, Willow, Weber & George