"Izzy Time" In Demand At Kids' Hospital

Pets To Lighten Mood Being Used More Often With Patients Who Have More Serious Conditions

(CBS)  Call him the best medicine on four legs.

Izzy the "therapy dog" is a full-time employee at the University of California San Francisco Children's Hospital who helps patients get back on their own two feet.

And while pets have been used for years to cheer up hospital patients and relieve stress, The Early Show's resident veterinarian, Dr. Debbye Turner explained Tuesday that more and more hospitals are taking a new approach, allowing pets to visit patients who have increasingly serious illnesses.

Time with Izzy, a miniature poodle, means a lot to patients, their families and staffers, Izzy's trainer, Francis Metcalf, tells Turner.

"These kids are in a hospital setting," he says. "It's sterile, and when you bring something as out of context as a dog, the magic in their eyes is pretty amazing!"

Adds Metcalf, Izzy is "very requested. People really want Izzy time!"

To see Turner's full report, click here.

[spargle]

Izzy is a poodle - the most intelligent of canines. She's also in the working dog category, and I'd bet loves the activity and attention. If you also listen to the end, they are "hiring" a second dog.

[jetlizhan]

this is wonderful for the patients, but shouldn't there be more dogs than just izzy? they could have like 4 hr shifts. poor izzy doesn't get to have a normal dog's life if he's always (full time employee it states) at the hospital. that's sad.