“A dog is the only thing on earth that loves you more than he loves himself,” the 19th-century humorist and writer Josh Billings once said. Charles M. Schulz, the creator of Peanuts, more recently wrote, “Happiness is a warm puppy.”
In each quote, the authors try to summarize what man’s best friend means to them, as well as the comfort they provide to others. That’s the idea behind an effort happening on the Louisville, Kentucky campus of Galen College of Nursing.
Senior Facilities Manager Jim Hack has been bringing his two golden retrievers to the Louisville campus since 2018, before the college moved from its previous location on Zorn Avenure to its new location on Terra Crossing Boulevard. He says it was originally just to introduce the pups to his co-workers.
“We were at the old campus and I had just got the new puppy, Henry, and I wanted to just bring him in and show him to everyone. It just kind of took off from there.”
Hack says it was a short time after bringing Henry into his home that he learned of the healing power of his pup first-hand.
“My brother-in-law’s mother was in a nursing home with dementia care up in Indiana, so I started bringing Henry to see her, so that’s where I got started with all of that.”
Hack says Henry got into the habit of visiting other patients at the nursing home, so it became a bit of a routine for about a year. That was about the same time Jim decided that Henry needed some company, so he adopted his second golden retriever, Maisy, who also happened to be Henry’s half-sister. Both pups had the same father and were born about a year apart.
“So once we opened the new campus, I started bringing both of them here to visit with students, and they were a big hit.”
Henry and Maisy were also a welcome sight for Galen faculty and staff, including CEO Mark Vogt.
“One day I wasn’t paying attention and Maisy wandered into Mark Vogt’s office, and he was in a meeting, and I told him I assumed I was fired now (laughs). But he said no, and he loved that the dogs were here.”
Although the pups are not on the payroll, they are official when it comes to Galen security. Both pups have their own photo ID badges to wear when they are on campus, which Hack says serves as a good reminder to the students.
“Henry and Maisy always wear their badge in plain view above their paws,” said Hack. ”That way, we can remind the students to always wear their badges in plain view above their waist (laughs).”
All jokes aside, Hack says he knows the golden retrievers make a difference in the lives of students, and it is just another way that Galen College of Nursing can support them in their nursing journey.
“It’s just what they tell me,” said Hack. “I had a student just recently tell me that her father was in the hospital, she was going through a difficult divorce, and she needed this visit from the dogs. Then she just sat on the floor with Henry and held him for the longest time. They had a nice quiet moment together.”
Similar statements were made by dozens of students the day Hack invited us to follow him around the Louisville campus. Many repeated the phrase ‘I needed this today’. Others asked if the dogs could come back again tomorrow. Hack says he would bring the dogs every day if he could.
“I really enjoy it. My wife’s a nurse, so I realize what they have to go through and the sacrifices they have to make. I’ve lived through that.”
Bringing the dogs to campus isn’t always easy. Hack has to make sure the dogs are clean and groomed for their big visits, along with transporting them to and from campus. In his mind though, it is worth every second. He says its his way of paying back nurses who made a difference in his own life.
“My daughter had cancer when she was 13 and we lived at Kosair Children’s Hospital on and off for a long time, almost two years. The nurses become your friends and family. You laugh together, you cry together, and I just felt lucky to kind of give back for what those nurses did for me and my family. That’s really my goal.”
Hack says his daughter is all grown up now and doing well. In fact, she will be getting married next year in Cancun, Mexico, and its thanks in part to the nurses that supported her so long ago.
As for his startup therapy dog program at the Louisville campus, Hack says he would like to see something similar started at all Galen campuses. His dream job, according to Hack, would just be visiting all the Galen campuses with Henry and Maisy and getting to know students across the country.
“I would just like to visit all the campuses and make popcorn for the students, just for the engagement. I just love that.”
In Jim Hack’s mind, his golden retrievers are the paw-fect answer to any problem at Galen College of Nursing.
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