Meet the Healing Pups Team
Bernadette
Breed: Bernadoodle
Where This Pooch Patrols: Inpatient Pediatrics
Fun Fact: Bernadette loves people (more than dogs), pizza crusts, and the beach.
Biko
Breed: German Shepherd
Where This Pooch Patrols: All units, during overnights and weekends
Fun Fact: He swallowed a whistle—all of his whining is definitely, definitely not his fault.
Bitsy
Breed: Chihuahua
Where This Pooch Patrols: Sickle cell patients, and by request
Fun Fact: Bitsy can easily outrace dogs that are several times her weight! Cucumbers are her favorite snack. She is Nellie’s sister.
Blue
Breed: Long-haired Labrador Retriever
Where This Pooch Patrols: Blue loves to visit with patients and staff alike!
Fun Fact: Long hair is a recessive gene in labs—if both parents have it, then the lab pups may be fluffy like Blue! Blue loves treats and giving high fives, and can speak on command!
Cocoa
Breed: Miniature Poodle Mix
Where This Pooch Patrols: Behavioral Health
Fun Fact: Cocoa loves walking around Boston Medical Center!
Crixus
Breed: Australian Cattle Dog
Where This Pooch Patrols: Floats based on requests
Fun Fact: When Crixus was 9 months old, he began to naturally alert his handler before they suffered a PTSD flashback, and would comfort without training.
Lola
Breed: Yellow Labrador Retriever
Where This Pooch Patrols: Floats based on requests
Fun Fact: Lola was named after the song by Barry Manilow! (“Her name was Lola…”)
Luie
Breed: Goldendoodle
Where This Pooch Patrols: Floats based on requests with his handler, Rev. Jennie Gould.
Fun Fact: Luie was trained by an inmate at MCI Norfolk in the NEADS program. He will do anything for treats.
Luna
Breed: Goldendoodle
Where This Pooch Patrols: Floats based on requests
Fun Fact: Luna loves playing fetch and singing!
Magnolia Jane (“Maggie”)
Breed: Mini Aussie
Where This Pooch Patrols: Surgical and Neuroscience Intensive Care Unit (SNICU)
Fun Fact: Maggie can give you a “high five” with both paws and dance like a ballerina. She is super sweet!!
Memphis
Breed: English Bulldog
Where This Pooch Patrols: Emergency Department, and floats based on requests
Fun Fact: Memphis is a rescue who loves car rides, treats, and people.
Monroe (“Roe”)
Breed: Husky + Poodle Mix
Where This Pooch Patrols: Floats based on requests
Fun Fact: Monroe loves snow and water. She is the sister of retired Healing Pup Miles.
Nala
Breed: Swiss Mountain Dog
Where This Pooch Patrols: Special events
Nellie
Breed: Chihuahua
Where This Pooch Patrols: 6-East, and floats based on requests
Fun Fact: Nellie is the smallest of the pack and has a wardrobe that’s larger than she is. We’ve never seen her repeat an outfit.
Piper
Breed: Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
Where This Pooch Patrols: Surgical Intensive Care Unit (SICU) and floats based on requests
Rory
Breed: Fox Red Labrador Retriever
Where This Pooch Patrols: Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) and floats based on requests
Fun Fact: Rory is a Fox Red Lab, which is a variant of yellow, so he is actually a yellow lab! He also went viral on TikTok this year with 1.5 million views on his “towel thief” video!
Sara
Breed: Black Labrador Retriever
Where This Pooch Patrols: Project EVOLVE
Fun Fact: Sara was trained through NEADS within the Rhode Island Department of Corrections. She can fetch a box of tissues for a patient on command.
Seymour
Breed: Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
Where This Pooch Patrols: Floats based on requests
Sully
Breed: Bernese Mountain Dog
Where This Pooch Patrols: Emergency Department, and floats based on requests
Fun Fact: Sully likes to hike…and occasionally dumpster dive.
Winnie
Breed: Boxer
Where This Pooch Patrols: Floats based on requests
Fun Fact: Winnie is Memphis’s sister, and also a rescue. She likes to hike with friends.
Zhara
Breed: Boxer
Where This Pooch Patrols: Floats based on requests
Fun Fact: Zhara loves z(h)oomies and laying in the sun.
About Healing Pups
Dexter, a boxer handled by Boston Medical Center employee Mike Hurley, pioneered BMC’s Healing Pups program in big ways. Following the Boston Marathon bombings in April 2013, Dexter and Mike visited the SICU Family Waiting Room. Almost instantly, Dexter was greeting victims and their families as if they were his new best friends, leaving them smiling from ear to ear.
The immediate effects of these visits were astounding. Patients and staff alike realized what a positive impact that furry friends like Dexter could have on those truly in need. It quickly became apparent that during traumatic times, nothing is more valuable than a companion.
Following in Dexter’s paw prints, the Healing Pups team continued to develop, offering patients and families a calming presence and helping to take their minds off of their troubles.
Today, the Healing Pups program has grown to include 21 dogs who regularly visit the BMC campus. All Healing Pups crew members have undergone rigorous training and behavioral evaluation to become certified therapy dogs. Some of the pups were specially trained through National Education for Assistance Dog Services (NEADS), an organization that provides independence to people who are deaf or have a disability through the use of canine assistance.
Some of the Healing Pups have regularly assigned areas on campus, while others float around based on patient requests. But the Healing Pups don't stop there! They are also active in visiting with BMC staff, and at Boston Healthcare for the Homeless.
Follow the Healing Pups’ adventures on Instagram: @BMCHealingPups
Podcast: The Healing Pups Program at BMC
To learn more about Healing Pups, please contact the BMC Department of Patient Advocacy.