Hometown Heroes: Sit...Stay...PLAY
If you go to Cook Children's Medical Center in Fort Worth, don't be surprised to see dogs in the hallways.
Four fantastic dogs are part of the hospital staff, and they even wear badges.
Sit...Stay...PLAY has been part of Cook Children's for two years. Chanel, Ralph, Kitty and Journey are golden retrievers that are certified therapy dogs.
They work an eight-hour shift five days a week and go home with their handlers. On the job, they never bark, but at home, they bark and live a regular dog's life.
The dogs work magic with the young patients. Whether it's walking with them for therapy, doing tricks in the hallway or sitting bedside, letting a sick child pet them, these canines are fantastic medicine.
The dogs know that they make a difference and the doctors and nurses know it, too.
Each dog costs about $20,000, and the money doesn't come out of the hospital’s budget. It comes from donations.
If you'd like to donate to Sit...Stay...PLAY at Cook Children's Medical Center, call 682-885-4105 or visit www.cookchildrens.org/donate.
Click “Make a Donation” and then specify that the donation should go to the dogs.
Follow Clarice on Twitter.