LUTZ — Most hospital therapy dogs visit for a few hours each week. Lily lives there.
The 2½-year-old golden retriever works five days a week at St. Joseph’s Hospital-North, roaming halls, attending group therapy sessions and climbing into beds with patients who need comfort.
“She came right back to me, let me touch her, do anything with her,” said Diane Sabel, 66, of Tampa, who spent 10 days in the hospital. “Lily gave me a hug and even got in bed with me.”
Lily is the first full-time facility dog at the Lutz hospital, a step beyond the eight therapy dogs that visit once a week for two hours. The idea came from BayCare’s St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital in Tampa, where a facility dog named Revere has worked with pediatric patients since 2023.
“We saw how positive our pet therapy program was and wondered what it would look like to have that higher level of interaction,” said Mary Partridge, the hospital’s operations director.
From left with Lily, Gabrielle Fink, Hailey MacNealy, Crystal Herring, Kerry Hipple and Mary Partridge.
Photos courtesy of ST. JOSEPH’S HOSPITAL-NORTH
The hospital worked with Michigan-based Paws With A Cause to match and train Lily. She spent about a year in training, mostly in Michigan, before moving to Florida in June. She completed certification in October and started full time immediately.
Four hospital employees trained as Lily’s handlers: Gabrielle Fink, an occupational therapist; Crystal Herring, a care coordination manager; Kerry Hipple, a nurse manager; and Hailey MacNealy, a behavioral health therapist. Lily lives with Herring’s family when she’s off duty.
She visits throughout the hospital, including the emergency department, infusion center and behavioral health unit.
“I see a lot of patients who have anxiety, depression and pain,” Fink said. “Just having Lily present in therapy sessions has made a world of difference.”
Sabel, a retired physician assistant with 36 years in health care, saw the benefits firsthand during her stay.
“I was walking around the unit to regain my strength when I saw Lily,” she said. “She just made me smile and forget that I am sick.”