At Hasbro Children's Hospital, every member of the care team plays an important role in helping children heal—including four-legged team members like Maui, a lovable Mini Goldendoodle who is already making a remarkable impact.

Maui is the newest member of the Children's Integrative Therapies, Pain Management, and Supportive Care (ChIPS) team. As a professionally trained facility dog, Maui works alongside healthcare professionals to support pediatric patients and their families during some of life's most challenging moments.

Although she is still completing her advanced training, Maui has quickly become a valued member of the hospital community, bringing comfort, connection, and hope to children throughout their healthcare journey.

What Does Maui Do?

Maui is being specially trained to assist children receiving care through:

• Pediatric pain management

• Integrative therapies

• Palliative care

• Supportive care services

• Emotional support during medical procedures

• Anxiety reduction

• Family-centered care

Unlike volunteer therapy dogs that visit periodically, a facility dog is integrated into the healthcare team and works directly with medical professionals to help improve patient outcomes.

Helping Children Feel Safe During Medical Care

Since arriving at Hasbro Children's Hospital, Maui has been gradually becoming familiar with the hospital environment while beginning supervised patient interactions.

One of Maui's greatest strengths is her incredible ability to read a room.

She naturally adjusts her energy level depending on the needs of each child. Whether a patient needs quiet companionship, playful distraction, or gentle emotional support, Maui instinctively responds in ways that help children feel more comfortable and secure.

Her calm presence creates an environment where healing can begin beyond medicine alone.

The Benefits Maui Brings to Pediatric Patients

Even in the early stages of her career, Maui has already made a meaningful difference for countless children and families.

Her work has helped:

• Build trusting relationships between healthcare providers and families

• Improve patient engagement during treatment

• Encourage children to participate in care

• Help facilitate difficult medical conversations

• Create opportunities for patients and families to open up emotionally

• Provide comfort during palliative care

• Support grieving families with quiet companionship

• Reduce anxiety during hospital stays

• Offer welcome distraction from pain and discomfort

• Bring smiles, laughter, and moments of joy throughout the hospital

For many children, Maui transforms a frightening hospital experience into one filled with warmth, compassion, and connection.

Supporting Families During Difficult Moments

Hospital visits are often stressful not only for children but for parents and caregivers as well.

Maui's calming presence provides emotional support that extends beyond the patient.

Families frequently find comfort simply by petting her, talking with her, or sharing a quiet moment together. During emotionally difficult situations, Maui helps create opportunities for connection that words alone sometimes cannot provide.

Her presence reminds families that compassion is an essential part of healthcare.

Why Facility Dogs Matter in Pediatric Healthcare

Research continues to demonstrate the many benefits of professionally trained facility dogs in medical settings.

Facility dogs may help:

• Lower stress and anxiety

• Encourage positive coping skills

• Improve communication

• Increase cooperation during medical procedures

• Reduce perceived pain

• Support emotional regulation

• Create positive healthcare experiences

• Improve overall patient satisfaction

By working alongside physicians, nurses, child life specialists, therapists, and supportive care professionals, facility dogs like Maui become an important part of comprehensive pediatric care.

Maui's Growing Role at Hasbro Children's Hospital

As Maui continues her professional training, she will expand the ways she supports patients throughout Hasbro Children's Hospital.

Every new interaction strengthens her skills while allowing more children and families to experience the unique comfort only a specially trained facility dog can provide.

Her gentle nature, emotional awareness, and natural ability to connect with people have already made her an unforgettable member of the ChIPS team.

Celebrating the Human-Animal Bond

The bond between children and dogs is powerful.

For young patients facing illness, hospitalization, pain, or uncertainty, a comforting wagging tail can provide reassurance that everything will be okay—even if only for a few moments.

Maui reminds us that healing happens in many ways.

Sometimes it comes through medicine.

Sometimes it comes through compassionate healthcare professionals.

And sometimes, it arrives on four paws with a wagging tail and a heart full of unconditional love.

Learn More About Working Dogs Making a Difference

At Courteous Canine, we're proud to celebrate therapy dogs, facility dogs, and service dogs that improve lives throughout Rhode Island and beyond. Maui's work at Hasbro Children's Hospital highlights the extraordinary impact that highly trained dogs can have in healthcare settings, supporting children, families, and medical teams every day.