McLeod Children’s Hospital welcomes Sugar, a golden retriever/labradoodle facility dog, to the McLeod Health family. Sugar began melting hearts and easing worries at McLeod Children’s Hospital in November 2025.

During the day, she interacts with pediatric patients to provide comfort and joy and help with tasks like teaching children how to take medication, keeping them calm during medical intervention and providing incentives for children to get out of bed to walk.

“Unlike our amazing volunteer therapy dogs, Sugar is a full-time staff member with advanced, goal-directed training to work alongside our Child Life specialists and clinicians every single day,” said Rebecca Vincent, Vice President of Women’s and Children’s Services at McLeod Regional Medical Center.

Sugar was born and raised in Alpharetta, Georgia, at Canine Assistants, a nonprofit organization located on an expansive teaching farm that breeds and educates service dogs for placement in hospitals across the country and with individuals who have special needs. Every dog’s education is tailored to their unique demeanor and personality. Those selected for hospital facility work receive over 1,500 hours of individualized instruction and more than 2,250 hours of group training. McLeod team members underwent four days of intensive on-site training with Sugar before returning to McLeod with her.

Sugar is one of 10 littermates now brightening lives at Children’s Hospitals across the country and the first facility dog at McLeod Health.

The McLeod facility dog program was made possible through grants from the McLeod Foundation and Dunkin’ Dogs for Joy™.