Mondays with Murphy: Therapy dog calms Saskatoon ER patients

Aches, pains, and broken bones won't be stopping one pooch from visiting an emergency room in Saskatoon.

St. John Ambulance therapy dog handlerJane Smithand her four-year-old English springer spaniel, Murphy, have been spending Mondays with patients at the Royal University Hospital's emergency room for almost a year.

"He loves people and he loves to be petted," said Smith. "There's not much that fizzes him, which is pretty much characteristic of a therapy dog."

She explained that the pair visits patients to help relieve their stressand bring a smile in a place where there's often not one.

"Often times, he will actually lay on their bed and put his head right across their belly and you can just see them light up," she explained.

Although all eyes are generally on Murphy, emergency room nurse clinicianJasonShandnoted that Smith'swork has been pivotal and paramount to the success of the calming visits.

"She had a puppy who she felt was appropriate for this, she went through the extensive steps to get him certified as a therapy dog, and then went through the steps after being approached by Dr. Stempien, our medical director, having [Murphy] come to visit patients in the emergency room." said Shand.

"This would not happen without her."