The facility dog program was instated as a way to create more consistency and cohesion, especially with younger patients, so the benefits of interacting with them could be maximized. Unlike volunteer therapy dogs, facility dogs are workers first, pets second.

Professor wearing his working vest. The vest has pockets for his badge and business cards, and on the back there's a symbol that says "please ask to pet me, I'm friendly." Charlotte Hu/Business Insider

"They carry business cards, they have a badge," Rode said. "They're going to rooms where there's been a referral request, with a specific goal."

Facility dogs like Professor and Amos are embedded into personalized treatment and recovery plans for patients and families at Kravis. All the doctors at Kravis carry with them a referral card for the services of Professor and Amos. They can provide procedural support, comfort and pain management, encouragement to walk, play opportunities, and family support.

A child-life specialist assesses the needs of the patient, the caregiver and the family, and designs a concrete clinical intervention with the facility dog to meet that need.

The dogs can encourage patients get out of bed or to walk on their own in order to be safely discharged from the hospital. They also create a relaxing environment for patients to process and discuss their experiences.

It's about making hard, challenging things feel more doable, said Stojanowski.

"We have little tricks they know how to do like brushing their teeth. Because the kid has to brush their teeth, but they're not doing it. So we make it a game that they're teaching Professor," said Stojanowski. "Professor and Amos know how to get their teeth brushed, you say open, and they'll open."

There's also a syringe with colored water, and the kids pretend it's medicine for the dogs. They'll give the dogs their 'medicine' and that will help them take their own medicine. The dogs also know simpler tricks like high five, take a bow, and 'chill', where they lay on their side.

These are all humanizing things for a child who has been depressed and disempowered by trauma and illness, said Rode. Small things like this can really relocate a position of control and power for them.

The dogs have also been trained practically to respond to quick signals like getting off the bed in the event of a medical emergency.