Dogs On Call

Dogs On Call Dogs On Call serves the patient, visitor, and staff populations of the VCU Medical Center by providing therapy dog visitation and animal-assisted therapy.

Dogs On Call is a volunteer-based therapy dog program of the non-profit The Center for Human-Animal Interaction (www.facebook.com/humananimalinteraction) at Virginia Commonwealth University. Therapy dog and handler teams visit as volunteers, at no cost to patients and their families, with the aim of enhancing the health and well-being of a myriad of clinical populations. Visits are provided nearly

everywhere throughout the VCU Medical Center, with the exception of operating rooms, delivery rooms, and where contact precautions are in place. Participating therapy dogs must be certified and continually meet set standards for temperament, obedience, and hygiene. Together, volunteers and their therapy dogs work to satisfy safety requirements so that they can provide this important service. The DOC Program is an evidence-based practice, supported by research conducted both internally and externally to the VCU Medical Center. Research conducted by the Center for Human-Animal Interaction, often involving visiting DOC teams, continues to uncover benefits patient and staff benefits from their visits as well as from other forms of human-animal interaction.

Did you know interacting with companion animals can combat loneliness in aging adults?
06/19/2026

Did you know interacting with companion animals can combat loneliness in aging adults?

TBT to our early research milestones. In the early 2000s, our research was laying the clinical groundwork for how the me...
06/18/2026

TBT to our early research milestones. In the early 2000s, our research was laying the clinical groundwork for how the medical community views the impact of therapy dogs today. šŸ“ˆ

The bond between a dog and their person transcends all boundaries, cultures, and walks of life.
06/17/2026

The bond between a dog and their person transcends all boundaries, cultures, and walks of life.

Highlighting our Director, Dr. Nancy R. Gee! Her internationally recognized research focuses on how companion animals in...
06/16/2026

Highlighting our Director, Dr. Nancy R. Gee! Her internationally recognized research focuses on how companion animals influence cognition, stress, and overall well-being. And she has her own Dogs on Call (Allie) dog in the program!

At CHAI, we donā€™t just know animals help us healā€”we prove it. Our interdisciplinary research explores the physiological ...
06/15/2026

At CHAI, we donā€™t just know animals help us healā€”we prove it. Our interdisciplinary research explores the physiological and psychological benefits of the human-animal bond with over 100 publications in the last 25 years.

University education is challenging, and our dogs are here to help. šŸ“ššŸ¶ Supporting Virginia Commonwealth University stude...
06/14/2026

University education is challenging, and our dogs are here to help. šŸ“ššŸ¶ Supporting Virginia Commonwealth University studentsā€™ mental health during exams is important to us!

Itā€™s not just for patients! Our teams are making ā€œRounds with Houndsā€ to provide crucial stress relief for VCU Health me...
06/12/2026

Itā€™s not just for patients! Our teams are making ā€œRounds with Houndsā€ to provide crucial stress relief for VCU Health medical staff facing long, demanding shifts. Thanks to our healthcare heroes!

Cassie, a beloved DOC pup, has provided and continues to provide countless hours of comfort to patients during her tenur...
06/11/2026

Cassie, a beloved DOC pup, has provided and continues to provide countless hours of comfort to patients during her tenure. We love those sweet paws!

For children at the Children's Hospital of Richmond at VCU, a dog isnā€™t just a visitor; they are a game changer.
06/10/2026

For children at the Children's Hospital of Richmond at VCU, a dog isnā€™t just a visitor; they are a game changer.

Address

1200 East Broad Street
Richmond, VA
23298

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 5pm
Tuesday 8am - 5pm
Wednesday 8am - 5pm
Thursday 8am - 5pm
Friday 8am - 5pm

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