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COURTESY KAPIOLANI MEDICAL CENTER FOR WOMEN & CHILDREN
Winnie, a highly trained Labrador retriever, poses with a patient at Kapiolani Medical Center for Women & Children.
Patients at Kapiolani Medical Center for Women & Children once again are enjoying the company of a four-legged visitor.
Winnie, a 1-year-old Labrador retriever, was introduced as the new hospital facility dog, or chief canine officer, at the beginning of March.
“Everyone at Kapiolani has been eagerly anticipating this day, and we are very excited to welcome Winnie to the team,” Kapiolani CEO Martha Smith said in a news release. “We’re very grateful to Assistance Dogs of Hawaii for gifting us with Winnie. She will play an important role in the care provided to our pediatric patients, and we know she will do a wonderful job in carrying on the legacy of our first hospital facility dog, Tucker.”
Tucker, a golden retriever, died in August after nine years of service. Wendi Hirsch, the pediatric psychologist who owned Tucker, will be Winnie’s handler.
Winnie was trained by Assistance Dogs of Hawaii, a Maui nonprofit that trains service dogs to support people with disabilities and to provide comfort and courage to children in hospitals and other stressful situations. Funding for the hospital facility dog program comes from donations.
Winnie is also popular on Facebook (look for#lovewinnie) as well as Instagram.
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