*Hospital Facility Dog® is a registered trademark of Shine On! Kids. The introduction of a Facility Dog at the University of Tsukuba Hospital is being carried out in collaboration with the certified non-profit organization Shine On! Kids.
“If only a Facility Dog had been there beside the children in those moments…”
This project began with the heartfelt wish of our hospital’s director, Dr. Hiramatsu.
“Even when medical care is essential to save a life, there are many moments when children feel tense or frightened. I have often felt that we need someone who can stay close to the parts of a child’s heart that medical hands alone cannot reach.
As a pediatric cardiovascular surgeon for many years, I have met countless children who endured difficult treatments while fighting with everything they had. Through those experiences, I sometimes found myself thinking, ‘If only a Facility Dog had been there beside them at that moment…’ It is from this heartfelt wish that I decided to introduce a Facility Dog to the University of Tsukuba Hospital.
I have long heard how Facility Dogs—already active in children’s hospitals nationwide—provide tremendous comfort and support to young patients facing their treatments.
I sincerely hope that the children receiving care at our hospital will feel the love and companionship of a Facility Dog, and that, by forming a true team together,they will find the strength to face their treatments with courage.”
About Us
Pediatric care at the University of Tsukuba Hospital is provided through three units: the Children’s Medical Center, the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU/GCU), and the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU). Among the patients we care for each day are many children who are bravely fighting cancer and other serious illnesses. With their small bodies and tremendous courage, they face treatments that require strength far beyond their years.
What Is a Hospital Facility Dog?
A Hospital Facility Dog is a specially trained dog who is able to work in a medical setting. Each dog is paired with a clinical professional (a handler) and together they serve exclusively at one hospital as part of the medical care team.
According to international guidelines, Facility Dogs and their handlers are required to complete professional-level training equivalent to that of guide and service dogs*.
*Shine On! Kids trains Facility Dogs by selecting dogs from breeders who specialize in working dogs whose temperament is well suited for this role. Their training is carried out with great attention to each dog’s personality and well-being and follows the standards of Assistance Dogs International (ADI), the global association that oversees service dog organizations worldwide.
Photo courtesy of Shine On! Kids
Supporting children during their most courageous moments,
including accompanying them to the operating room
(Tai / Shizuoka Children’s Hospital)
Photo courtesy of Shine On! Kids
■ Main Activities
The work of a Facility Dog can be grouped into three main areas:
emotional support through interaction and play, support during medical procedures, and companionship in palliative care.
Point 01｜Emotional Support Through Interaction and Play
Point 02｜Support During Examinations and Treatment
Point 03｜Companionship in Palliative Care
■ Role of the Handler
Facility Dogs work as a team with a handler, a clinical professional (such as a nurse) with hands-on medical experience. The handler reviews medical charts, understands each child’s condition, and collaborates with doctors, nurses, and other medical staff to plan appropriate interventions.
In hospital environments filled with delicate medical equipment, even small movements can lead to accidents. For a Facility Dog to work safely in such settings, the handler’s medical knowledge and clinical experience are essential. Their role is absolutely indispensable in making the Facility Dog program possible.
Why Crowdfunding?
There are three main reasons why we chose crowdfunding for this project.
01｜Funding to Sustain the Program
The activities of a Facility Dog are not covered by public insurance. To ensure safe and high quality support every day, including the handler’s salary and the dog’s ongoing care, significant financial resources are required.
02｜To Share This Initiative With as Many People as Possible
We do not want this project to remain only within our hospital. We hope to work together with our community to address the broader social issue of improving children’s healing environments. One of our goals is to expand a circle of supporters, namely people who resonate with this challenge and choose to stand with us.
03｜To Help Shape the Future of Pediatric Care in Japan
If more people are moved to support this project, and if our challenge here in Tsukuba becomes a successful model, it may inspire university hospitals across the country and expand hope nationwide. Should this initiative gain national recognition, there may one day be a pathway for Facility Dog programs to be acknowledged as part of Japan’s public medical system.
For example, if improvements to therapeutic environments could be included in medical reimbursement policies, more hospitals might consider introducing Facility Dogs, leading to a future where many more children across Japan can benefit from their presence. For these reasons, we chose crowdfunding as a way to share our vision widely and entrust this hope to the support of many.
How Your Support Will Be Used
Operating a Facility Dog program requires approximately 10 million yen per year for each dog.
Your contributions will be carefully used to welcome a Facility Dog to our hospital and to ensure that the program can continue sustainably.
Funding Goal: 22 million yen
Breakdown:
• Facility Dog introduction costs
• Facility Dog program operating costs (1 year)
• Crowdfunding platform fees
Schedule:
Spring 2027: Facility Dog introduction and activity launch (scheduled)
This project will be carried out using the “All-in” model. Even if we do not reach the target amount, we will fulfill all commitments made for the initial goal.
Please note that the schedule may change. Any updates will be shared with supporters through this page.
Your support will become a light of hope for the future.
Our guiding principle is “Heartfelt Hospital.” This means more than providing medical care with compassion. It reflects our commitment to continually ask ourselves what we can do for each patient in front of us and to take action to create better care together.
This project is a true expression of that philosophy. It is a step toward care that reaches not only the body, but the hearts of the children we serve.
Through this initiative, we hope to create more moments when children can smile,
and to help them believe in their own future again. Ten years from now, we hope that the University of Tsukuba Hospital will be known throughout the community as a place where children can feel safe and supported as they face their treatments.
We warmly invite you to join us as a partner in supporting these children.
Your support will shine as a powerful light for their future.
From the bottom of our hearts, we thank you for your kindness and generosity.