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.

Sending love to The Oncology Service for their continued support. We couldn’t do this without you! Do you have a group w...
05/30/2026

Sending love to The Oncology Service for their continued support. We couldn’t do this without you! Do you have a group who would like to sponsor Dogs on Call? Email us at [email protected].

“I just needed a break.” That’s what a doctor told us last week. They sat on the floor with Rudee for five minutes. No w...
05/28/2026

“I just needed a break.” That’s what a doctor told us last week. They sat on the floor with Rudee for five minutes. No words. Just petting. When they stood up, they took a deep breath and went back to saving lives. We’re proud to provide the “paws” button.

Question of the Day: What is the weirdest thing your dog is afraid of? A vacuum? A toaster? The concept of thunder? Let ...
05/26/2026

Question of the Day: What is the weirdest thing your dog is afraid of? A vacuum? A toaster? The concept of thunder? Let us know in the comments so we can feel better about our own irrational fears.

It is incredibly hard to resist those puppy-dog eyes, but constantly giving in to begging with high-calorie treats drast...
05/25/2026

It is incredibly hard to resist those puppy-dog eyes, but constantly giving in to begging with high-calorie treats drastically increases your dog's risk for obesity and joint pain. The good news is that dogs care more about the action of getting a treat than what it actually is! Try swapping out processed biscuits for crunchy, dog-safe vegetables like baby carrots or green beans so you can still spoil them while protecting their long-term health.

Real heroes wear uniforms (and sometimes need a dog to love).
05/23/2026

Real heroes wear uniforms (and sometimes need a dog to love).

To the ED Staff: The landing zone. Thank you for catching us.
05/22/2026

To the ED Staff: The landing zone. Thank you for catching us.

To the Flight Medics: Angels with rotors. We thank you!
05/21/2026

To the Flight Medics: Angels with rotors. We thank you!

To the Paramedics: High stakes, high skills. We salute you.
05/20/2026

To the Paramedics: High stakes, high skills. We salute you.

To the EMTs: You carry the weight of the world (and the stretcher). Thank you for carrying the load!
05/19/2026

To the EMTs: You carry the weight of the world (and the stretcher). Thank you for carrying the load!

To the Dispatchers: The calm voice in the dark. Thank you.
05/18/2026

To the Dispatchers: The calm voice in the dark. Thank you.

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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