#DogsOnCall
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dogsoncall.bsky.social
Inspired by 25 years of Dogs on Call? We are always looking for registered therapy dog teams. Learn how you and your dog can get involved: chai.vcu.edu/dogs-on-call...

#VolunteerRichmond #DogsOnCall #RVA #CHAI25
A graphic with a light blue gradient background patterned with faint paw prints, framed by a decorative dotted border. At the top, bold black text reads "INSPIRED? WE'RE ALWAYS LOOKING FOR NEW TEAMS!" On the left side of the graphic, there is a photograph of three women interacting with a small black poodle-mix therapy dog. Two women wearing blue scrubs and face masks are seated and smiling. A third woman, wearing a blue Dogs on Call polo shirt, a face mask, and khaki pants, is kneeling affectionately beside the dog, which is wearing a blue therapy dog vest. On the right side, there is a large QR code centered inside a light blue square, topped with a dark blue tab that reads "SCAN ME" in white text. In the bottom right corner, a shiny 3D gold "25th" logo rests above a black ribbon banner that reads "ANNIVERSARY" in gold letters.
June 13, 2026 at 11:01 AM
dogsoncall.bsky.social
For children at the Children's Hospital of Richmond, a dog isn’t just a visitor; they are a game changer.

#PediatricCare #DogsOnCall #CHAI25
A graphic with a light blue gradient background patterned with faint paw prints, framed by a decorative dotted border. At the top, bold black text reads "PEDIATRIC IMPACT" with the message "OUR DOGS ARE MORE THAN VISITORS, THEY ARE PART OF THE HEALING PROCESS" directly underneath. The center features a photograph of a pediatric hospital visit with two Dogs on Call therapy teams. On the left, a handler wearing a blue polo shirt and a clear face shield holds a small gray terrier-mix dog wearing a blue therapy vest. A young boy in a wheelchair, wearing a face mask and a blue cape, reaches out to gently pet the dog. On the right, another handler in a blue polo and face shield kneels beside a yellow Labrador Retriever wearing a blue therapy vest. The dog is interacting with a young child in a tie-dye shirt and a teal face mask who is kneeling on the floor beside them.
June 10, 2026 at 11:04 AM
dogsoncall.bsky.social
Meet Margaret and Elsa! They’ve been volunteering with DOC for 10 years! Thanks for your dedicated service!

#VolunteerSpotlight #CHAI25 #DogsOnCall
Alt Text Description: A graphic with a light blue gradient background patterned with faint paw prints, framed by a decorative dotted border. At the top, bold black text reads "HANDLER SPOTLIGHT" with "MARGARET & ELSA" directly underneath. This text is flanked by two light yellow angular shapes pointing inward to create a spotlight effect. The center features a photograph of a smiling woman with blonde hair wearing a blue VCU Health System volunteer polo shirt and ID badge. She is posing closely next to her therapy dog, a large, fluffy, light brown doodle-mix breed wearing a black harness. In the bottom right corner, a shiny 3D gold "25th" logo rests above a black ribbon banner that reads "ANNIVERSARY" in gold letters.
June 9, 2026 at 11:03 AM
dogsoncall.bsky.social
Our Dogs on Call program is the heart of our clinical work. With the dedication of over 300 teams over the past 25 years, we have been able to consistently deliver comfort and smiles across VCU Medical Center and VCU.

#DogsOnCall #CHAI25 #TherapyDogs
A graphic with a light blue gradient background patterned with faint paw prints, framed by a decorative dotted border. At the top, bold black text reads "DOGS ON CALL" with the phrase "THE ❤️ OF OUR CLINICAL WORK!" directly underneath. The center features a vibrant photo collage of multiple therapy dog teams. It showcases diverse groups of smiling handlers and medical staff posing alongside their therapy dogs, which include a Golden Doodle, a Chocolate Lab, a Yellow Lab, a Corgi, a small black Poodle mix, and several other breeds. Many of the handlers are wearing blue "Dogs on Call" shirts, and several of the dogs are wearing their official blue therapy dog vests. In the bottom right corner, a shiny 3D gold "25th" logo rests above a black ribbon banner that reads "ANNIVERSARY" in gold letters.
June 8, 2026 at 11:01 AM
dogsoncall.bsky.social
TBT to our early days! The vest may not be there yet, but the smiles our dogs bring remain exactly the same.

#TBT #CHAI25 #DogsOnCall #HealthcareHistory
Alt Text Description: A graphic with a light blue gradient background patterned with faint paw prints, framed by a decorative dotted border. At the top, bold black text reads "THROWBACK THURSDAY." The center features a photograph of a smiling young girl in a hospital bed, wearing a patterned hospital gown and a blue cap with a pink flower. She is gently resting her hand on a medium-sized black dog that is lying on the bed beside her, looking forward with a relaxed, happy expression. In the bottom right corner, a shiny 3D gold "25th" logo rests above a black ribbon banner that reads "ANNIVERSARY" in gold letters.
June 4, 2026 at 11:04 AM
dogsoncall.bsky.social
What makes a therapy dog? It’s not just being “nice.” It’s the ability to interact with all types of people in one visit. It’s a level of patience that deserves a gold medal!

#TherapyDogTraining #Patience #WorkingDogs #DogsOnCall
A stacked two-panel graphic separated by a white banner in the middle that reads 'therapy dog standards'. The top photo is a close-up of a person's hands gently holding the face of a calm, brown and white Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. The bottom photo shows a smiling woman in dark blue medical scrubs kneeling in a hospital hallway, affectionately petting a small black and silver Miniature Schnauzer wearing a blue 'Dogs on Call' vest.
May 12, 2026 at 5:03 PM
dogsoncall.bsky.social
It’s National Kids and Pets Day AND National Pet Parents Day. Whether your “kid” has two legs or four, today is for you. You take good care of them, and we salute you!

#KidsAndPets #PetParents #Family #DogsOnCall
A side-by-side graphic with the heading 'HOLIDAYS' at the top. A circle reading 'AND' separates two photos. The left photo shows a young patient in a hospital bed gently petting a spotted black and white therapy dog, with a banner below reading 'NATIONAL KIDS & PETS DAY'. The right photo shows a smiling volunteer in a blue 'Dogs on Call' shirt kneeling beside a Golden Retriever, with a banner below reading 'NATIONAL PET PARENTS DAY'.
April 26, 2026 at 2:02 PM
dogsoncall.bsky.social
It’s National Lookalike Day! Do you look like your dog? Prove it! Post a side-by-side in the comments. Let’s see those matching jowls!

#LookalikeDay #Twinning #DogLove #DogsOnCall
A collage graphic on a black background featuring photos of seven different Dogs on Call therapy dogs. On the left side, text reads 'April 20' inside a yellow circle, overlapping a cream-colored box that reads 'Look Alike Day'. The photos showcase a variety of dogs looking directly at the camera, including a small black and white dog in a blue therapy vest, a golden dog wearing a colorful bandana, a fluffy white dog in an orange polka-dot bow tie, a small scruffy white dog, a black doodle, a Golden Retriever, and a black poodle.
April 20, 2026 at 11:01 PM
dogsoncall.bsky.social
A massive, tail-wagging thank you to the Children's Hospital of Richmond. Because of you, we can keep our tails wagging. You are the “Good Boy” of sponsors! Do you have a group who would like to sponsor Dogs on Call? Email us at chai@vcuhealth.org.

#ThankYou #CommunitySupport #NonProfit #DogsOnCall
A sponsor thank-you graphic. Text at the top reads 'Thanks for your sponsorship...'. Prominently displayed in the center is the logo and text for 'Children's Hospital of Richmond at VCU'. A dark blue circle in the bottom left reads '2026 DOGS ON CALL CALENDAR'. A dark blue footer across the bottom includes the text 'Center for Human-Animal Interaction®' and the website 'chai.vcu.edu'.
April 14, 2026 at 5:03 PM
dogsoncall.bsky.social
IF we let the dogs name themselves, we’d have a roster of over 60 dogs named “Cheese,” “Ham,” and “Don’t Leave.” If your dog could choose their own name based on their personality, what would it be? Tell us below!

#NameYourselfDay #DogNames #AlterEgo #DogsOnCall
A photo overlaid with large, white text reading 'NAME YOURSELF DAY'. Behind the text, three smiling VCU Health staff members are kneeling on a clinic floor, gathered around a large, shaggy, grey therapy dog that is happily panting. The woman on the left is holding the dog's blue leash.
April 9, 2026 at 11:01 AM
dogsoncall.bsky.social
A massive, tail-wagging thank you to Iron Bridge Animal Hospital. Because of you, we can keep our tails wagging. Do you have a group who would like to sponsor Dogs on Call? Email us at chai@vcuhealth.org.

#ThankYou #CommunitySupport #NonProfit #DogsOnCall
A sponsor thank-you graphic. Text at the top reads 'Thanks for your sponsorship...'. Prominently displayed in the center is the logo and text for 'Children's Hospital of Richmond at VCU'. A dark blue circle in the bottom left reads '2026 DOGS ON CALL CALENDAR'. A dark blue footer across the bottom includes the text 'Center for Human-Animal Interaction®' and the website 'chai.vcu.edu'.
April 2, 2026 at 5:03 PM
dogsoncall.bsky.social
Here’s an idea: tell your dog you are taking them to the vet, but then take them for a walk instead! Celebrate both April Fools and National Walking Day!

#AprilFools #NationalWalkingDay #DogsOnCall #Bamboozled
A side-by-side graphic. The left side has a yellow background, a block calendar showing '01 APRIL', speech bubbles saying 'HA HA' and 'FOOL'S DAY', and a banner reading 'APRIL FOOL'S'. The right side shows an older man from behind walking a dog on a path covered in autumn leaves, under a banner reading 'WALKING DAY'.
April 1, 2026 at 1:47 PM
dogsoncall.bsky.social
‘Tis the season for holiday cheer! But what’s your dog’s FAVORITE part of the holidays? Is it the extra treats, the cozy naps by the fire, or maybe playing with new toys? Tell us below!

#HolidayDogs #DogLife #ChristmasDogs #PetHoliday #DogsOnCall #CHAI #FurryFriends #HolidayCheer #DogLove
December 16, 2025 at 1:02 PM
dogsoncall.bsky.social
"Mic check, one two! 🎤🐾 Thank you Children's Hospital of Richmond at VCU for inviting us to Radiothon, and to Mix 98.1 for putting our Dogs on Call program in the spotlight! We loved talking about the power of puppy love.

#DogsOnCall #Radiothon #Mix981 #TherapyDogLife"
Alt Text: A group photo showing four smiling people and a small, white fluffy therapy dog standing in front of a Mix 98.1 banner. A man in a blue hoodie holds the dog in the center. Overlaid graphics include a large microphone illustration on the left, the Children's Hospital of Richmond at VCU logo at the top, and text that reads "RADIOTHON" and "THANKS FOR INVITING US!"
December 11, 2025 at 5:15 PM
dogsoncall.bsky.social
Today is #GivingTuesday! Your support allows the Center for Human-Animal interaction to continue our vital research and expand our Dogs On Call therapy dog program, bringing comfort and healing to countless individuals.

#GivingTuesday #Donate #SupportCHAI #DogsOnCall #NonProfit #MakeADifference
A "Giving Tuesday" graphic. A golden retriever with people petting it is in the foreground, with the text "GIVING TUESDAY" and "2 December." A white box contains a message about donating to the cause, a QR code, and a website address.
December 2, 2025 at 12:30 PM
dogsoncall.bsky.social
Today is Election Day! Your voice matters. Head to the polls and make your vote count. When you get home, we’re sure your furry co-pilot will be ready to greet you, no matter the outcome.

#ElectionDay #Vote #YourVoiceMatters #CivicDuty #DogsOfDemocracy #DogsOnCall #CHAI #GoVote
A graphic for "Election Day 2025." The top of the image shows a waving American flag with stars. Below that, a dog's paw is shown in the foreground, pressing down on a paper ballot with a checkmark in one of the boxes. The text "ELECTION DAY 2025" is large and prominent.
November 4, 2025 at 12:30 PM
dogsoncall.bsky.social
Did you know that animal-assisted therapy can significantly reduce perceived pain levels in patients? Understanding this helps us refine our Dogs on Call program for maximum impact.

#Research #AnimalAssistedTherapy #PainManagement #HealthcareInnovation #HumanAnimalBond #CHAI #DogsOnCall
A graphic with the title "Animal-Assisted Therapy" and the text "can significantly reduce perceived pain levels in patients." The graphic is a collage of six photos showing therapy dogs visiting patients in a hospital setting. The photos show various dogs interacting with people of different ages, some in beds and others in chairs.
October 29, 2025 at 11:45 AM
dogsoncall.bsky.social
It’s Animal Welfare Week! Beyond providing love and care, what’s one simple action you take to ensure the welfare of animals in your community? Tell us below!

#AnimalWelfareWeek #AnimalWelfare #PetAdvocacy #CommunityCare #ResponsiblePetOwner #CHAI #DogsOnCall #MakeADifference #ProtectAnimals
A black and white photo of a person wearing a face mask bending down to pet a small dog. To the right, a large green block contains the text "Animal Welfare Week."
October 9, 2025 at 11:45 AM
dogsoncall.bsky.social
On Child Health Day, we celebrate the well-being of our youngest community members. Did you know interacting with therapy dogs can have benefits for children’s emotional and physical health?

#ChildHealthDay #KidsHealth #TherapyDogs #AnimalAssistedTherapy #ChildWellness #DogsOnCall #CHAI #Pediatric
A graphic with a photo of a therapy dog visiting a hospital. A young child in a pink shirt is looking at the camera, while an adult is on the left petting a golden retriever in the foreground. The graphic includes the text "Improve your child's health today" and a large title, "Child Health Day."
October 6, 2025 at 11:45 AM
dogsoncall.bsky.social
We visited a young patient who was very excited to see Kris. She called him by her own dog's name and invited him for a "sleepover," which Kris happily obliged. As they snuggled up together on her bed, she kept whispering to Kris and smiling.

- Shared by Dogs on Call Handler Kelly

#DogsOnCall
A graphic titled "From the DOGS ON CALL files," featuring a black lab named Kris Kringle McKringleberry. The graphic includes three photos: the top right shows the dog with a child, the bottom left shows the dog being petted by two women, and the bottom right is a close-up of the dog's face with snow on its fur.
September 24, 2025 at 12:23 PM
dogsoncall.bsky.social
Happy Responsible Dog Ownership Day! This is the perfect lead-in to National Dog Week, which starts tomorrow! What’s one thing you do as a responsible dog owner?

#ResponsibleDogOwnership #AKCDogOwnershipDay #NationalDogWeek #DogCare #PetHealth #Training #DogsOnCall #CHAI #DogParents
A graphic for National Dog Week. A smiling black and brown doodle. The graphic includes a large red paw print in the corner and the text "NATIONAL DOG WEEK."
September 20, 2025 at 12:01 PM
dogsoncall.bsky.social
A huge THANK YOU to everyone who came out to Pups on the Plaza today! It was a truly wonderful day filled with our amazing Dogs on Call teams, fantastic food, lively music, and the best community.

#POTP25 #ThankYou #DogsOnCall #VCU #CommunitySupport #HumanAnimalInteraction #RichmondEvents
A thank you poster for a successful "Pups on the Plaza" event. The main text on the right says, "THANK YOU FOR A SUCCESSFUL." The bottom left has the event title, "PUPS ON THE PLAZA." Two Polaroid-style photos show therapy dogs and people: the top shows a woman in a blue shirt with a brown dog on a chair, and the bottom shows a dog on its back receiving a belly rub. A thank you graphic dedicated to Holiday Barn Pet Resorts. The text at the top says "THANKS TO." Below that, the Holiday Barn Pet Resorts logo is featured on a dog bone-shaped background, with cartoon mascots of a cat and a dog on either side. A blurry photo of a person petting a dog is behind the logo. Text at the bottom explains that Holiday Barn covered the first 200 meals to support a research and therapy dog program.
September 18, 2025 at 6:02 PM
dogsoncall.bsky.social
It’s HERE! 🎉 Pups on the Plaza is officially kicking off in just 1 hour! Come join us in front of MMEC (1201 East Marshall Street) for a paw-some time with our incredible Dogs on Call teams, food, and great music.

#POTP2025 #DogsOnCall #EventDay #RichmondVA #CommunityEvent #FoodTrucks #LiveMusic
Promotional poster announcing, "IT'S HERE! PUPS ON THE PLAZA." The main text and event details are on the left, including the date, time, and location. On the right, two Polaroid-style photos are stacked. The top photo shows a smiling person with a black dog. The bottom photo shows a golden retriever visiting a person in a hospital bed.
September 18, 2025 at 11:02 AM
dogsoncall.bsky.social
The moment you’ve all been waiting for is almost here! TOMORROW is “Pups on the Plaza”! We can’t wait to share this experience with you. See you there!

🗓️ Thursday, September 18, 2025
⏰ 11am-2pm
📍 In front of MMEC, 1201 East Marshall Street

#POTP2025 #DogsOnCall #VCU #RVAEvents #Community
A "Pups on the Plaza" promotional poster. The main text says "Only 1 Day!" with event details including the date and location. Two Polaroid-style photos show therapy dogs interacting with people. The top photo shows a dog looking up at a person in a medical coat. The bottom photo shows a child in a "I'm a Huge Fan" shirt petting a golden retriever.
September 17, 2025 at 2:03 PM
dogsoncall.bsky.social
Just 2 more days until “Pups on the Plaza”! We’ve got a fantastic event planned for you, featuring food, music, and of course, our amazing Dogs on Call teams. Get ready for some good vibes and furry friends!

#POTP25 #DogsOnCall #VCUHealth #VCU #Fun #Countdown #HumanAnimalInteraction
A promotional poster for "Pups on the Plaza." The top of the image says "Only 2 Days!" and has event details. To the right are two photos. The top photo shows a smiling person in a chair with a dog on their lap, while the bottom one shows a person and a child petting a golden retriever. The bottom of the poster notes that lunch tickets are provided by Holiday Barn Pet Resorts.
September 16, 2025 at 2:04 PM