Loving Paws Therapy Dog Program
Therapy dogs are used in a wide variety of health care settings to provide emotional, psychological, and cognitive assistance to patients and their families. MetroHealth has a great team of canine caregivers that regularly visit our halls and add support and comfort to all they meet!
The Great Pyrenees who participate in our Loving Paws therapy dog program have brought joy, comfort and healing to MetroHealth staff and patients since 2020. Therapy dogs are used in a wide variety of health care settings to provide emotional, psychological, and cognitive assistance to patients and their families. MetroHealth has a great team of canine caregivers that regularly visit our halls and add support and comfort to all they meet!
The story of Rosie
Rosie has been supporting patients at MetroHealth since 2020 and has logged over 250 hours of service at The Glick Center, Old Brooklyn Medical Center, and Rehabilitation Institute. When not at MetroHealth, she visits other hospitals, nursing homes and schools and has been recognized by the American Kennel Club for completing over 400 hours of total service as a therapy dog.
Rosie is also a test dog for Bright & Beautiful Therapy Dogs where she works with animals in training to assist with evaluations for therapy dog certification. She follows in the footsteps of her mom, Macee, who is also a member of the Loving Paws team, and her son Beau will join the team in 2025!
Rosie's Story: Her Family
CASTLE
Grand Champion Platinum – Champion
Kennel – Rivergroves
Formal Name - Chateau De Castelnau
Rosie’s Father & Beau’s Grandfather
Castle started his career in the show world, where he achieved great accolades. He ranked Number 1 for Great Pyrenees two years in a row, and he was the first Great Pyrenees to achieve the honor of AKC (American Kennel Club) Platinum Grand Champion.
In New York City’s Madison Square Gardens he won the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, Best of Breed category for Great Pyrenees.
Castle was recognized by the Great Pyrenees Club of America (GPCA) and received:
- GPCA Versatility Ambassador Award
- GPCA Versatility Emissary Award
- GPCA Versatility Excellence Award
What made Castle so great as a Therapy dog and Show dog was his kind and gentle nature to whomever he met. He genuinely enjoyed his therapy work visiting nursing homes, going to schools where he excelled in visiting special needs children’s classroom. Castle was our gentle giant, a great Ambassador for his breed.
MACEE
Grand Champion – Champion
Kennel – Rivergroves
Formal Name – She Loves A Parade
Rosie’s Mother & Beau’s Grandmother
Macee is 9 years old and has retired from showing in dog shows where she traveled all over the United States with Castle.
In 2023 Macee was recognized by the (GPCA) Great Pyrenees Club of America and received:
- Thea Hynes Memorial Outstanding Versatility Award
- GPCA Versatility Emissary Award
- Versatility Excellent Award
- GPCA Animal Assisted Therapy and Activities Title (Level One)
At MetroHealth Main Campus, Macee would accompany the ice cream cart on late night visits. She was fondly called the Ice Cream Dog. Macee was one of the first dogs who started therapy work at MetroHealth Old Brooklyn Medical Center and the Rehabilitation Institute.
In Macee’s spare time she does additional visits to nursing homes and schools.
When our grandchildren visit, Macee allows the little ones to climb all over her. She has made it her responsibility to oversee the infants where she lays near the cradle keeping a watchful eye.
ROSIE
American Kennel Club (AKC) Distinguished Therapy Dog
Kennel – Castle Rock
Formal Name – Castle Rocks White Rose
Beau’s Mother
The American Kennel Club (AKC) recognized Rosie for over four hundred visits of therapy work.
She has multiple titles from AKC events including in Temperament Faru, Obedience, Canine Good Citizen, Rally and Therapy.
2024 – Rosie has been recognized by the Great Pyrenees Club of America (GPCA) with:
- Thea Hynes Memorial Outstanding Versatility Award
- GPCA Versatility Emissary Award
- Versatility Excellent Award
- GPCA Animal Assisted Therapy and Activities Title (Level One and Level Two)
Rosie is also a Test Dog for Bright & Beautiful Therapy Dogs. One of the tasks for the Test Dog is to be present when other dogs are being evaluated for becoming a Bright & Beautiful Therapy Dog.
Rosie has worked at MetroHealth Main Campus, MetroHealth Old Brooklyn Medical Center and the Rehabilitation Institute since 2020 for 250 hours.
Rosie was one of the first dogs allowed to go back to MetroHealth after Covid-19.
In Rosie’s spare time she travels to various facilities, nursing homes, and schools. This past April Rosie gave birth to five beautiful puppies, and we kept BEAU.
BEAU
The American Kennel Club (AKC) – Star Puppy and Canine Good Citizen
Kennel – Castle Rocks
Formal Name – Castle Rocks Le Beau Fils de Rosie
Mother is Rosie – Castle Rocks White Rose (Rosie)
Father is from Belgium – Rabastens Du Mas De Beauvisoisin (Rabi)
Beau has just turned 6 months old; he is working on his skills to become a therapy dog. At the present time he has earned the AKC Titles Trick Dog, Canine Good Citizen, and Puppy Home Manners. In Beau’s spare time he visits schools, nursing homes and public speaking events.
Meet the Loving Paws Dogs
Click on a card to learn more about each dog.
Annual Pediatric Halloween Parade
It’s hard being in the hospital when you’re a child. Especially on Halloween, when many of your friends are out trick or treating. Our employees made sure to share plenty of treats during the Annual Pediatric Halloween Parade, where patients filled up their buckets and bags with stickers, coloring books, glow wands and more.
The Pediatric team invited the Loving Paws to take part in the parade, adding another element of Halloween surprise!
