Facility Dog Inka Gives Back What was Given to Her

It’s not typical for a child who must have routine hospital visits to look forward to the next appointment. Can Do Canine Inka, a facility dog at M Health Fairview Masonic Children’s Hospital, is having that exact effect, though. 

In late 2022, Inka was matched with Child Life Specialists Sam and Jen to serve on two floors of medical-surgical pediatric units. Sam and Jen were familiar with what being dog handlers would entail, because Can Do Canines Fern began as a facility dog in their building months prior. Sam says she had been looking for a new challenge in her position. Meanwhile, Jen and her family had been considering getting involved with the Can Do Canines PAW (Pups at Work) Program through her husband’s employer, Best Buy. Being co-handlers for Inka met both of their wishes. 

Inka, a 3-year-old yellow Lab, is now a 40-hour-per-week working girl. She lives and works primarily with Sam but spends at least one afternoon each week working with Jen. She is in hot demand among the physicians who request her presence, and each morning, Sam and Jen review patient lists to prioritize Inka’s visits for the day. The “Infamous Inka,” as she’s known, is trained in various ways to help children ages 0-18. Being a role model for different hospital procedures is one invaluable responsibility. Sam says, “She’s very good at tolerating all the things like bandaids, tourniquets, gauze, and surgery caps. The kids will even help give her her medicine, and then it’s just more motivating. If they see her do it, then they’ll do it.” Inka especially loves when she has to demonstrate taking medicine with a syringe since she gets to slurp down delicious broth. 

Inka is also a motivating factor for getting kids up and moving, whether she’s allowing children to take her for walks down the hall or encouraging them to move body parts near sutures. “She loves to play fetch in the hospital hallways with kids. That's another way we get kids physically moving after surgery and maybe using their arm, [which is] so important for their recovery,” explains Sam. Noting that Inka is also incredibly perceptive in reading a room, Sam adds, “She knows exactly how to snuggle in just the right way with each patient.”

Snuggling in these situations can mean more than just comfort. In a recent experience, a boy with Osteosarcoma was due for a big surgery. Inka rode down to surgery and hung out with him in pre-op. The patient did not need any anti-anxiety medicine and was telling stories and jokes. Sam says, “Having her present made all the difference.” Afterward, the parents, too, reported, “That couldn’t have gone any better.” Sam states, “She made such a difference in that pivotal moment and in that patient’s treatment and life.”

Inka also eliminates awkward silence so these professionals can be a supportive presence with children and their families in a way that Jen says “feels comfortable and not weird.” She adds, “I’m always impressed with how she allows the teenage population to open up to us more. They don't necessarily want to just talk to a lady who comes into their room. So it can take a really, really long time to build rapport with a patient like that.” With Inka, kids relax because she offers an alternate focus. “She helps kids share with us so that we can help them better.”

This was evident during a recent “Code 21” mental health crisis with a teenager. Sam says, “The only way to get this patient to calm down and be cooperative was snuggling with Inka.” With about 15 people in the room working on the situation, Inka was credited for deescalating the tension with this teenager, avoiding a need for medical injection.

Sam, Jen, and the entire Masonic Children’s Hospital staff understand the huge investment connected to Inka. Jen comments, “I wish that all those people that put that time and money in could just see firsthand [what she does]. It's just a hundredfold what Inca gives back.” Sam agrees, concluding,” We have so much gratitude toward everybody who put so much love into Inka. We feel super blessed to be able to work with her in this capacity.”

 

Thank you to all those who made this partnership possible:

Whelping Home — Kolleen Herr
Great Start Home — Sarah McLaughlin
Puppy Raiser — Jackson Correctional Institution
Special Thanks — Erin Bequette & Colin Kemmis, Katie Cormier Family