Kitty, a golden retriever therapy dog at Cook Children's Hospital, is photographed in the lobby of the Dodson Specialty Clinic at Cook Children's Medical Clinic in Fort Worth, Texas on Monday, September 19, 2016. [photo courtesy of Cook Children's Hospital]
The Cook Children’s hospital resident canine was named a “Dog Who Changed the World” by Milk-Bone, the dog food company.
Kitty, named for her trainer, is a golden retriever therapy dog who works alongside Dr. Jayme Coffman, medical director at The Center for Prevention of Child Maltreatment.
A “top-dog” graduate of the Canine Assistants school, Kitty helps treat children who are brought to the hospital because of suspected child abuse.
“She changes the world one person at a time.”
Dr. Jayme Coffman
“She changes the world one person at a time,” Coffman told NBC5 .
Kitty allows patients to pet her and play with her, providing relief for the children, who grow to trust her.
“You know the one thing about a dog is that they will never tell your secrets,” Coffman said. “And, if a child sees a dog, [the hospital] is not a scary place. I mean, if a dog can hang out and have fun, so can they.”
Canine Assistants, with the support from Milk-Bone, has placed more than 2,000 hero dogs with owners such as Coffman.
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