McLeod Children’s Hospital welcomes Sugar, a golden retriever/labradoodle facility dog, to the McLeod Health family. Sugar began melting hearts and easing worries at McLeod Children’s Hospital in November 2025.
During the day, she interacts with pediatric patients to provide comfort and joy and help with tasks like teaching children how to take medication, keeping them calm during medical intervention and providing incentives for children to get out of bed to walk.
“Unlike our amazing volunteer therapy dogs, Sugar is a full-time staff member with advanced, goal-directed training to work alongside our Child Life specialists and clinicians every single day,” said Rebecca Vincent, Vice President of Women’s and Children’s Services at McLeod Regional Medical Center…