Norton Healthcare Foundation

Your gift today will help support the Heel, Dog, Heal Facility Dog program for adult patients, which is funded through the Norton Healthcare Foundation by the generous support of community members like you!

There are soon to be seven full-time facility dogs that work at Norton Hospital and its sister facilities. The dogs that serve our adult patients and families are named Juno, Pepper, Zeus, Henry, Usher, River and a new furry employee in training.  

Research shows that having full-time therapy dogs has many benefits for patients and families. Sometimes, it’s providing emotional comfort by lying at the foot of a patient's hospital bed or sitting by their side before a procedure. Other times, they’re helping with physical recovery by encouraging patients to get out of bed and walk. This year also showed us how much the dogs help our staff cope with stress while they have navigated the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Our dogs still regularly receive many more visit requests from patients than they can accommodate even though they each work full time with therapists in our hospitals.

That is why we need your support to help continue to grow this program and add more dogs and therapists to our team in addition to continuing to care for our current furry team members.

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As the philanthropic arm of Norton Healthcare’s not-for-profit adult services, the Norton Healthcare Foundation raises funds each year to make a difference for programs, equipment and facilities, research and education spanning Norton Cancer Institute, Norton Heart & Vascular Institute, Norton Neuroscience Institute, Norton Women’s Care and other health services. The foundation also supports adult-service initiatives at Norton Audubon Hospital, Norton Brownsboro Hospital, Norton Hospital, and Norton Women’s & Children’s Hospital. This support allows caregivers and the hospitals to stay up to date with medical advances and technology, thereby maintaining the community’s access to high-quality health care. For more information, visit NortonHealthcareFoundation.com or call (502) 420-4299.