Carolina Hurricanes star and Stanley Cup champion Seth Jarvis has made a donation to UNC Children’s Hospital to support a new program close to his heart. The Paws & Heel UNC Children’s Facility Dog Program will bring specially trained dogs into the hospital as full-time care team members for pediatric patients. The dogs will work alongside healthcare professionals to support children and families.

“I’m excited to be able to support this wonderful program that combines two of my favorite things — helping kids and dogs,” Jarvis said in a statement. “Being in the hospital can be one of the toughest experiences a family will ever face, and I’m grateful for the chance to make that experience a little easier for kids at UNC Children’s.”

Facility dogs can sit beside a child before a procedure, provide comfort during treatment or encourage participation in therapy, the hospital said in a release. And their assistance doesn’t end there.

“In a demanding hospital environment, facility dogs can offer healthcare professionals moments of connection, joy and stress relief,” the release said.

“We are deeply appreciative to Seth for his generosity in supporting our children and their families in this way,” said Dr. Stephanie D. Davis, Physician-in-Chief at UNC Children’s and Chief of Children’s Clinical Services at UNC Health. “Time in the hospital can feel scary and uncertain, and the Paws & Heel Program will help us provide a level of comfort and happiness that is really unique and special.”

The hospital says it anticipates having its first facility dog in place by mid-2027. To learn more about the Paws & Heel Program or to provide support, click here.

Ryker, the Jarvis family dog, poses alongside the Stanley Cup. (Image via the Jarvis Family)

 

Featured image via Associated Press/John Locher

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