Animal-Assisted Therapy

More than 20 years ago, Sutter pioneered the use of facility dogs for inpatient healthcare settings. Our program is now the longest running facility dog program in the U.S. The popular facility dogs take patients for walks, help with exercise, play fetch and generally improve the health and well-being of individuals in our rehabilitation departments, Child Life program, oncology clinics and more. 

We partner with Canine Companions facility dogs to assist you in both hospital and outpatient settings. These specially trained dogs perform service tasks like picking up items, opening doors and providing calming pressure by laying on your lap or body. These dogs can help enhance your therapy, reduce anxiety and aid in developing independent living skills.