Meet 3 pooches promoted to 'chief comfort officer' at Virginia hospital

FALLS CHURCH, Va. (WJLA) — Mikey DeJesus, a patient at a Virginia hospital, lights up every time Moo walks into the hospital's Outpatient Rehabilitation Center to work with him on his healing journey.

DeJesus nearly died in a car accident.

I connect with dogs way more than with humans," said DeJesus.

For some time now, DeJesus, Moo, along with Moo’s handler, Monika Stolze, have been working together and thriving together in the rehab setting at Inova Loudoun Hospital.

Moo, a 3-year-old Labrador retriever, guides DeJesus as he relearns to walk, works with him on his coordination, and more than anything, brightens his day.

Oh, he loves me. He loves me," DeJesus added.

Research notes dogs can boost joy and lower stress. These remarkable creatures can also play a role in the healing process by inspiring patients, like double amputee Mike Keefe, to push harder in rehab.

For Moo, it's easy and fun. For Keefe, throwing a ball while balancing on two prosthetic legs strengthens his core and improves his balance, which is critical while learning how to walk.

Most will just say, 'You took a step. What’s the big deal?' It’s a huge deal, now, for me. He’s a big incentive. By your side, basically," said Keefe.

Facility dogs, like 8-year-old retriever, Jeremiah, also work wonders by just sitting beside a patient and letting that patient pet him. These caregivers also spread smiles to fellow staff members, as well.

There’s something calming about dogs no matter how stressed out you are," said one staff member, while petting Jeremiah in the ICU.

WJLA shadowed these compassionate canines the week they landed new titles.

They will now be known officially as Inova’s Chief Comfort Officers," said Inova Health Foundation President Dr. Sage Bolte.

Six-year-old Bartley, as well as Jeremiah and Moo, were recently promoted from facility dogs to "Chief Comfort Officers." Now, the hospital is welcoming its next round of facility dogs: Rex, Cozy and Bohdi.

The dogs who do this love their work," said Leslie Horton.

Horton, a registered nurse, founded the program two decades ago. She also spent years conducting research showing that patients with traumatic brain injuries, after engaging in animal-assisted therapy, not only felt better but did better in cognition scores and performed better in rehabilitation.

To read more about Horton's research, click here and here.

This is letting them getting started into rehab at a much higher level, which is going to help them get back into society much quicker," said Horton.

Horton also worked on research showing no infection spread in a hospital setting when people use hand sanitizer before interacting with facility dogs.

I always thought I was a really good nurse at the bedside and what I have learned is that the dogs have humbled me because they can reach their patients when we cannot," Horton said.