Therapy dog retires from ‘cuddle manager’ job after 8 years at children’s hospital
FILE - Holly poses in front of a giant teddy bear at Alder Hey Children's. (Credit: Barry Lea)
Holly, the former cuddle manager at a children’s hospital in the United Kingdom, has officially retired after eight years on the job.
"After 8 years with the #AlderHeyFamily, she's now going to enjoy a well-deserved doggy retirement. She even received a guard of honour from her fellow Alder Hey volunteers," the hospital said.
Holly – who is a very good girl – will spend her retirement with her owner, Barry.
Emotional support for all
The backstory:
Holly has provided therapeutic and emotional help for children, young people, families and even staff at Alder Hey since 2017.
FILE - Holly posing with Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny. (Credit: Barry Lea).
By the numbers:
Holly has visited the hospital 500 times during her tenure, giving much-needed cuddles to all.
What they're saying:
People who met Holly at Alder Hey posted comments, thanking her for her years of service.
"Happy Retirement Holly. You put a smile on Elayna's face many times when she was missing her dog at home. Enjoy resting those very special paws. Thank you xxx"
"Happy Retirement Holly! And thank you Barry for bringing her, she really cheered Ellie up last June after her spinal surgery."
"Thank you for bringing so much joy to our family and countless others. Happy retirement sweetest girl xxx."
Dogs and human health
Dig deeper:
A recent study published in the journal PLOS One, suggested that interacting with dogs could improve a person’s concentration and relieve stress.
A 2022 study found that pets may actually help their owners stave off memory loss and cognitive decline.
While the effect was most notable with dog and cat owners, pets such as birds, fish and other smaller animals also benefited their owners.
It's believed that interacting with pets can also reduce blood pressure, which may be the cause of the benefits to memory.
Pets also give their owners companionship and a sense of purpose.
The Source: Information for this article was gathered from a Facebook post by Alder Hey Children’s, email correspondence with Holly’s owner, Barry, and previous reporting by LiveNOW from FOX and FOX News. This story was reported from Los Angeles.