Surgeon Brings Dog Asher to Cheer Up Hospital Patients

When patients at Good Samaritan Hospital in Lafayette, Colorado need a boost, the prescription comes with four legs and a wagging tail.

Dr. Adam Butler, the chief and medical director of surgery at Intermountain Health Good Samaritan Hospital, brings his dog Asher to work as part of the hospital's Caring Canine Program. The four-year-old therapy dog has become a bright spot for people facing difficult recoveries and long hospital stays.

"He comes in and brings happiness and joy to people," Butler explains. "Being stuck in the hospital can obviously be very monotonous and a difficult time in people's lives."

Asher doesn't perform complex tasks or specialized services. His superpower is simpler: he shows up with a calm presence, gentle demeanor, and an irresistibly soft coat that makes patients feel instantly at ease.

For many hospital patients, days blur together in a cycle of medical tests, treatments, and waiting. The routine can feel isolating and overwhelming. That's where Asher steps in, offering something medicine alone can't provide: pure, uncomplicated comfort.

Sunny's Take

There's something profound about the simple act of petting a friendly dog when you're feeling your worst. Asher doesn't need words to communicate compassion. He doesn't judge or worry. He just exists beside patients, offering his gentle presence when they need it most.

Dr. Butler could have kept his talented therapy dog to himself, but instead he chose to share Asher's gift with those who need comfort most. That decision transforms ordinary hospital days into moments of unexpected joy for countless patients navigating their healing journeys.

Programs like Good Samaritan's Caring Canine initiative recognize what researchers have long confirmed: animal companionship reduces stress, lowers blood pressure, and improves emotional wellbeing. Asher delivers all these benefits simply by being his calm, fuzzy self.

The next time Asher walks through those hospital doors, he'll carry something more valuable than any medication: hope, comfort, and a reminder that healing comes in many forms.