Alivia Haag’s face lit up when Nola, a 5-year-old corgi, walked into her hospital room.
As she reached out to pet the small dog, handler Matt Swinehart explained a few facts about the breed and shared funny stories about Nola. Alivia gently placed her stuffed dog on top of Nola’s head and offered her a Cheerio — one of the therapy dog’s favorite treats.
“She’s really soft,” said the eight-year-old, patting her again.
“She was having panic attacks until you guys came in,” said Julie Haag, Alivia’s grandmother. “Now you’ve calmed her down.”
Moments like this happen often during Nola’s visits to Akron Children’s Hospital — so often that Swinehart decided to turn them into a children’s book, “Nola the Noble Corgi Visits the Hospital.”
Nola is one of several certified therapy dogs in the hospital’s Doggie Brigade program, sponsored by Milk-Bone. Since 1992, the program has paired trained dogs and volunteer handlers with young patients, aiming to ease anxiety, reduce stress and offer a break from the routines of medical care.
The corgi holds a complex rating, meaning she is cleared to visit higher-stress areas such as the emergency department and the behavioral health unit.
She seems to know when it’s time for a hospital visit. When Swinehart puts on his blue volunteer shirt and ties her blue bandana around her neck, she perks up, ready to go.
From playful pup to therapy dog
Swinehart and his wife brought Nola home at six weeks old, and the fluffy, tricolor Pembroke Welsh corgi was immediately drawn to the neighborhood kids, eager to play whenever she was outside.
“We came to the conclusion that we needed to do something with that, because she loves being around kids,” Swinehart said. “So we got her certified through Pet Partners, and then came here and did our testing.”
Corgis are herding dogs. They are intelligent, alert and active by nature. Nola was just 2 years old when she completed her training, proving to be a fast learner.
To maintain certification, Swinehart undergoes a written exam every two years and participates in an in-person evaluation designed to simulate real hospital scenarios. Evaluators test how Nola responds to sudden noises, such as metal clanging, or to people moving quickly around her. Therapy dogs are trained not to bark or lick patients and to remain calm in stressful situations.
She seems to know when to sit close and rest her head beside a patient and when to quietly step back.
“She reads the energy of the room well,” Swinehart said. “You can see it in her temperament — she can face all of this and stay as calm as can be.”
Comfort in action: ‘Sometimes we’re stressed, too’
Leeland McNulty’s reaction was similar. The 5-year-old said he missed his puppy, Dunkin, back home.
Leeland told Swinehart he loves playing outside with Dunkin and hopes to teach him tricks one day. With a Cheerio in hand, Swinehart asked Nola to sit, lie down and roll over. When she completed the routine, Leeland broke into a wide smile.
Latricia Perrian, a medical laboratory assistant and phlebotomist at the hospital, said therapy dogs support staff as well.
“Sometimes we’re stressed, too,” Perrian said. “We need that support to help us feel better.”
She often pets a therapy dog named Chase during his visits to Akron Children’s. “When I see him,” she said, “I feel better.”
On days when Nola isn’t walking hospital hallways, she visits the Twinsburg Public Library, one of her favorite places.
“They sit on the ground, put the book on her, and read while she follows along with her head,” Swinehart said.
During the weeks leading up to finals, Nola stops by Kent State University’s library, offering students a quiet break from studying.
From hospital halls to storybook pages
Writing a children’s book about Nola’s adventures began as a passing thought. Because he grew up on a farm surrounded by animals, he imagined how funny it would be if every child in the hospital had their own therapy animal.
Though he initially doubted he would write the book, the idea stayed with him. In the story, Nola recruits other animals — including pigs, cows and goats — to join her hospital visits, giving each child a personal companion.
In real life, though, it’s just Nola padding down the hallway at Akron Children’s toward her next room.