HUNTSVILLE, Alabama — Huntsville Hospital's newest employee has four legs and likes to fetch.
Orbit is a Golden Retriever and is the hospital's second facility dog. He joined his sister Asteroid who started working at the hospital in 2019.
Hospital employees spent October 1st celebrating Asteroid and Orbit's birthday.
Because so many patients at Huntsville Hospital for Women and Children enjoyed having Asteroid around, they needed a second dog.
Thanks to a $70,441 grant from PetSmart Charities, Orbit went through intensive training and started helping patients in mid-September.
The dogs are part of the hospital's Canines for Coping program. They help kids with different kinds of medical goals, are present during procedures, and assist with bereavement.
Huntsville Hospital Facility Dog Coordinator, Stefani Williams, said, "They can get in bed with them while they're having procedures. Asteroid hops up on the MRI and CT table for kids who have to get imaging done and she'll sit there with them while they get their imaging done or while they're being sedated for that."
PetsMart Charities also recently awarded the hospital with another $46,500 grant to help continue the Canines for Coping program.
When the dogs aren't working, they have their own fenced in area at the hospital to take a break.
WATCH: 2nd facility dog coming to Huntsville Hospital for Women & Children