Healing hearts with comfort, care and connection
Healing hearts with paws
Healing your heart and spirit often goes beyond traditional medical treatments. Our specially trained facility dogs from the Dogs of Cardiac Support program at Baylor Scott & White The Heart Hospital offer encouragement that helps care for hearts—both physically and emotionally.
Guided by certified handlers, our facility dogs provide comfort, calm and motivation throughout recovery. These expertly trained dogs visit patients and caregivers in the hospital and in clinics across all Baylor Scott & White The Heart Hospital campuses and are available to offer healing and support.
How our facility dogs support patients
As part of the multidisciplinary care team, our facility dogs serve as loyal partners in your care. They work side by side with health providers to enhance physical healing, support emotional resilience and improve recovery.
They support guests in areas such as:
- Cardiac rehabilitation—providing encouragement and motivation during recovery
- Occupational, speech and physical therapy—encouraging participation and assisting in building skills
- Social work—offering calm and companionship while navigating next steps
- Support groups and palliative care—bringing empathy and connection to guests and families
Their presence provides more than smiles. It supports measurable improvements in well-being by helping patients relax, engage and heal.
Connect with our Dogs of Cardiac Support team
If you would like to request a facility dog visit during your stay or clinic appointment, or if you have general questions about the program, please complete the form below. A member of our team will follow up with you.
You may also call 469.814.4570 to request a visit or speak with our team directly.
Meet our Dogs of Cardiac Support
Baylor Scott & White Health works with Canine Companions to support the training of facility and therapy dogs, including those at Baylor Scott & White The Heart Hospital. Our facility dogs are chosen based on temperament, intelligence and trainability, and every dog goes through an extensive training and selection process.
Facility dogs are raised by a volunteer puppy raiser for the first year to year and a half. Then, they receive facility dog training at Canine Companions for five to nine months. To become a facility dog, each dog also earns Assistance Dogs International certification. Therapy dogs are personal pets of volunteers at our locations, and often have a Canine Good Citizenship certification.
Our facility and therapy dogs each have a unique personality—but they all share a heart for helping others.
Frenchie
A female Labrador–golden retriever mix born in September 2019 in Santa Rosa, California. Raised in Carrollton and trained in Irving, Frenchie joined our Plano team in June 2022. Her affectionate nature makes her a favorite among guests and staff.
Brielle
A female Labrador–golden retriever mix born in January 2023 in Santa Rosa, California. Brielle was raised by the Baylor Scott & White The Heart Hospital team before she began her advanced training to become a facility dog. Her energy brightens every hallway she walks through.
Evans
Evans is a male Labrador-golden retriever mix born in November 2021 in Santa Rosa, California. After placement in Coppell, Texas with a puppy raiser family, he went to the Kinkeade training center in Irving, Texas for advanced training. He was placed at our Denton location in February 2024. Evans brings comfort, joy and heart to our hospital guests and staff.
Fuller VI
Fuller VI is a male Labrador-golden retriever mix born in March 2024 in Irving, Texas. Fuller was moved from the service dog program to the therapy dog program during his advanced training at the Kinkeade training center in Irving, Texas. As a Baylor Scott & White therapy dog, Fuller is focused on bringing joy to our staff and visitors, and allows our facility dogs to focus on patient care.
Kahlua
In loving memory
We also honor the legacy of a beloved member of our Dogs of Cardiac Support family who helped shape this program.
Kahlua was a male Labrador–golden retriever mix born in May 2019 in Santa Rosa, California. After being raised in Austin by a volunteer family, he completed training at the Canine Companions® Kinkeade Campus in Irving. He joined our Plano facility in June 2021 and provided calm confidence and gentle encouragement to those he met.
Special events and celebrations
Our facility dogs, certified handlers and Dogs of Cardiac Support committee love to spread joy at our facilities and in the community. Throughout the year, our facility dogs participate in special events that celebrate healing, promote fun and build community among patients, families and staff.
Annual events include:
- Halloween Pet Parade
- Holiday Pawsitivity Wreath Contest
- Valentine’s Paw Love Celebration
- Santa Paws
- Birthday Pawty
- Nurses Week and Hospital Week visits
For event details, contact Sherry Swanson via email or call 469.814.4570.