Therapy Animal Program

Smiling patient with pet therapy dog, Bodie
Our therapy animal teams provide companionship and comfort for our patients and their families when they are here.

How Therapy Animals Help

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention most recently published that therapy animals "provide invaluable health benefits to their human companions." Therapy animals can lower your blood pressure, cholesterol levels, triglyceride levels, pain levels, and the feeling of loneliness.

They are an excellent companion for our patients and their families when they are here.

Is your dog ready to become a Therapy Dog? Collage of MUSC therapy dogs.

About Therapy Animal Visits

Volunteers and their dogs are available to visit patients various times during the week. Visits usually last around 15 minutes. If you see any of our therapy dogs around the hospital, please feel free to stop by and interact with them. Our dogs love to be petted, and they are here for you!

If you are a patient in the hospital, feel free to request a visit!  They are able to visit inpatient rooms that are not on isolation at the request of the patient. Therapy dogs are not permitted in isolation rooms. 

To request a visit, contact Cathy Bennett, Therapy Animal Program Coordinator, at 843-792-7360.

How to Get Started

If you are interested in becoming part of our Therapy Animal Program, see our Volunteer Requirements.

MUSC currently accepts certified therapy dogs from the below national therapy dog organizations. A dog must be registered by one of these organizations to be eligible to participate in the MUSC Therapy Animal Program