Reviewed by: Callie Morrison
Meet the adorable facility dogs at Huntsville Hospital now
Reading time: 5 minutes
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Did you know that we have some of the coolest pups right here in Huntsville? We got to shake paws with the facility dogs at Huntsville Hospital and see firsthand the incredible work they do. Read on for all the details.
Meet the facility dogs: Asteroid & Co.
Let’s check out this all-star pup lineup.
- Asteroid: After being hired in 2019, she’s the one who started it all. She’s fast-paced, super sassy and loves people. Plus, she’s now the Huntsville Hospital Chief Dog Officer, and according to her handler Stefani, the promotion’s completely gone to her head.
- Orbit: He’s Asteroid’s littermate but couldn’t be any different. He’s steady, calm and loves consistency.
- Apple: She’s the first dog to work at a Huntsville Hospital’s Madison campus. She’s extremely affectionate and known for her high energy.
- Paxton: He’s the youngest of the dog squad and the most recent hire. He’s super sweet and always eager to please.
- Vivian: She’s the most fashionable, and you can catch her with all the latest accessories. Vivian works with adult patients at Huntsville Hospital.
All the facility dogs work 40 hours a week at the hospital, but don’t worry—they still find time to relax too.
“When we [the handlers] go home, our dogs are not facility dogs anymore—they’re our pets. Asteroid gets to do all the normal dog things—she barks at the door, rolls in the mud and hogs the bed.”
Stefani Williams, Canines for Coping Coordinator, Huntsville Hospital
First hospital in the state with a facility dog
Stefani Williams—now the Huntsville Hospital Canines for Coping Coordinator—had a vision eight years ago to bring facility dogs to the hospital. She was working at Huntsville Hospital as a Child Life Specialist, helping children and their families prepare for procedures and stay calm during diagnosis.
However, she started to feel limited in her ability to break through with some of these patients, leading her to look into and eventually propose a Canines for Coping program. Since adding Asteroid to the staff in 2019, Huntsville Hospital has now grown to have five dogs total.
“Some patients—especially teenagers—feel like they can’t communicate with us, and I don’t blame them. When I was 16, I didn’t want to talk to a stranger about my feelings. But they don’t have to talk to our dogs. They get what they need just from the physical interaction.
We’ve had kids whisper their secrets to our dogs before, and we get to see the relief on their faces after sharing their fears. Our dogs provide non-verbal, judgment-free support.”
Stefani Williams, Canines for Coping Coordinator, Huntsville Hospital
The Huntsville Hospital facility dogs are also experts at making patients feel at ease before surgeries and procedures.
“Our dogs do things like jump up on MRI and CT tables to show how those work before patients have to get their picture taken. They also let us hold the anesthesia mask up to their nose and mouth to show kids how they fall asleep for surgery.”
Stefani Williams, Canines for Coping Coordinator, Huntsville Hospital
You can work alongside these all-star pups—apply for careers at Huntsville Hospital.
Making Huntsville Hospital a great place to work
Since starting Canines for Coping at Huntsville Hospital in 2019, Stefani has heard countless positive reviews from the Huntsville Hospital staff. Many report that the dogs inspire them to come to work every day, and they especially love having Asteroid as a fully dedicated staff dog.
Stefani has been able to see concretely the impact these facility dogs have had on the staff.
“On every paycheck, employees have the option to give money back to the hospital and support special projects like ours. It’s amazing to see how the process has come full circle, as Asteroid is now a full-time staff dog.
I’ve heard from the staff that they love seeing their funds at work, walking around and wagging their tails. Our staff deserves to be able to decompress with our dogs.”
Stefani Williams, Canines for Coping Coordinator, Huntsville Hospital
Apply to Huntsville Hospital today!
In addition to working with the incredible Asteroid & Co., you can also collaborate with some pretty awesome humans at Huntsville Hospital.
“One of my favorite parts about working at Huntsville Hospital is the team mindset. My coworkers truly value patient care. They’ll wait 10 minutes to start a procedure for a dog to get there and help the patient feel at ease.”
Stefani Williams, Canines for Coping Coordinator, Huntsville Hospital
Looking for a holistic and team-oriented workplace? Apply to Huntsville Hospital.
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