Researchers to study impact of facility dog at Cambridge Memorial Hospital
A dog at Cambridge Memorial Hospital is set to be one of the main subjects of a University of Guelph study.
National Service Dogs (NSD)-certified facility dog Ember has been working at the hospital since May 2022. The Labrador retriever helps provide mental health support for staff, physicians, midwives, and volunteers.
"Her entire role is to be part of the mental health team here at the hospital, supporting staff,” Danielle Forbes, executive director and co-founder of National Service Dogs said.
"Certain people get excited to see her," Jenna Bilenduke, wellness and wellbeing specialist at Cambridge Memorial Hospital said. "They see her coming. They'll turn their chair around and they'll kind of put their hands on her lap for her to jump over their lap."
Cambridge Memorial said it’s the first hospital in Canada to have a dedicated facility dog provided by National Service Dogs. Ember is not a therapy dog, and rarely interacts with the public. The hospital does have two therapy dogs that can work with patients, but Ember is meant for the staff.
Now, the University of Guelph is planning to research the impact Ember is having.
"[We’re] particularly interested to see how Ember can support staff. More importantly, we want to make sure that staff are well and also that we retain staff," said Basem Gohar, assistant professor in the Department of Population Medicine at the Ontario Veterinary College at the University of Guelph.
National Service Dogs-certified facility dog Ember at Cambridge Memorial Hospital on April 4, 2024. (Colton Wiens/CTV Kitchener)
Gohar said with the stress healthcare workers face on the job and staffing shortages causing burnout, he wants to see if there is a way to help.
"Finding any novel ideas to help retain staff and support their mental wellbeing is crucial," Gohar said.
Research is set to begin on May 1. A graduate student will document Embers interactions with staff, and survey workers, to see if there is a correlation between the visits and staff mental health.
"Their perceived work support, organizational commitment and their well-being," Gohar said.
Gohar says the initial research could take weeks to months, just until they have enough information come to a conclusion and as long as Ember is ready to work.
Ember knows commands like "visit," which instructs her to rest her head on your lap. (Colton Wiens/CTV Kitchener)
Ember will be turning four years old this year and is expected to spend at least another five years working at the hospital.
"Each of our working facility dogs, we aim to retire them around nine or ten years of age. So she's actually got probably five or six more years of good work left in her,” Forbes said.
Ember works eight hour shifts and visits different staff throughout the day. She gets numerous breaks to destress and play. Different staff have trained as handlers and take turns with Ember.
Jenna Bilenduke, a wellness and wellbeing specialist at CMH, has been one of her handlers since Ember first came to the hospital and has seen how the staff and the dog have bonded.
"When she started, [she was] a bit more gentle in her visits, was a bit more cautious, getting to understand her environment, the people. I also have noticed her pick up on people's reception to her and over time that bond has built," Bilenduke said.
"She just looks at you with her Ember eyes and she just takes everything away," says Nina Grealy, an administrative assistant for the chief of staff and medical affairs at CMH. (Colton Wiens/CTV Kitchener)
National Service Dogs taught Ember how to be close to people, including sitting on laps and giving hugs. She knows a few cues to respond to when working with staff. The word “lap” instructs her to climb across someone’s lap. “Close” leads to Ember going between your legs for a hug. If you say “visit” she'll come and rest her head on your lap and “chin” instructs Ember to rest her head on an outstretched hand.
Bilenduke said bringing Ember around to other staff also gives her a chance to meet more colleagues.
"They ask questions about Ember, we connect about their pets or other things that may bring them joy at home. Yeah, it really has opened that door for me as well," Bilenduke said.
Ember is set to turn four years old this year and is expected to spent at least another five years working at the hospital. (Colton Wiens/CTV Kitchener)
Nina Grealy, an administrative assistant for the chief of staff and medical affairs at CMH, first met Ember in 2022. She then became a handler for Ember in November 2023.
"I have dogs at home. So of course, when anybody is an animal lover and they have to leave their animals at home for any period, and you come to the hospital, if you're in a stressful situation or even if you're around stressful situations if you're not directly impacted, you do feel it. Then when Ember comes she makes you feel better," Grealy said.
Grealy said her relationships at work have also grown since becoming a handler, adding Ember has a way of helping her colleagues relax.
"She just looks at you with her Ember eyes and she just takes everything away," Grealy said.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Woman found dead in Lake Ontario in 2017 matches identity of missing person in Switzerland
Genetic genealogy has helped Toronto police identify a woman who was found dead in Lake Ontario in 2017.
Fish oil supplements may raise risk of stroke, heart issues, study suggests
As an excellent source of heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids, daily fish oil supplements are a popular way to keep the risk of cardiovascular disease at bay.
Private island on Nova Scotia's South Shore listed for $15.8M
A private island on Nova Scotia’s South Shore has been listed for sale with a $11.5-million USD price tag.
U.K. prime minister calls national election for July 4
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak called a national election on Wednesday, naming July 4 as the date for a vote his governing Conservatives are widely expected to lose to the opposition Labour Party after 14 years in power.
'Happy tears' of victim's sister after prison attack on serial killer Robert Pickton
Cynthia Cardinal said she was 'overwhelmed' with happiness when she received a text message on Monday with the news that serial killer Robert Pickton, who murdered her sister, was attacked in prison. She called it 'karma.'
Montreal photographer captures dramatic Canada goose vs. fox fight on video
A Montreal photographer captured the moment a Canada goose defended itself from a fox at the Botanical Garden.
'On the edge of failing': Most of Canada gets a 'D' on poverty report cards
Poverty and food insecurity have worsened in most of Canada in the past year and most provincial governments aren't doing enough to address the problem, according to a just-released series of report cards.
Blood vial delivery prompts evacuation of Republican headquarters in Washington
The Republican National Committee's headquarters in Washington was briefly evacuated on Wednesday morning after a suspicious package containing two vials of blood was delivered to the building, the police and the RNC said.
World's most expensive feather sells at New Zealand auction
A feather from a long-extinct New Zealand bird has set a record after selling for $46,521 NZD (about US$28,400), the auction house handling the sale has said.