Sometimes all it takes is a wagging tail and a gentle paw to brighten a day.

Meet Moby, a white labradoodle who brings both smiles and tears as he works his way around Shuswap Lake General Hospital every Wednesday.

Moby is a certified St. John Ambulance Therapy Dog, and Moby does his job well, says owner Joyce Polley.

And 鈥淒r. Dog鈥� just seems to know what to do, she says.

鈥淥ne fella said 鈥業 sure do appreciate you Moby; I enjoyed this visit very much,鈥� says Polley, noting the atmosphere in one room might be light and positive, while the mood may be much more sombre in another patient鈥檚 room. 鈥淲e were called into a palliative patient鈥檚 room. Moby walked over to the bed, put his head on the bed for a moment and went back to the family member, who wrapped her arms around him and just cried and cried.鈥�

Polley tells about a visit to the emergency room when a fellow who had injured his hands walked over to Moby and made the only gesture he could, laying two fingers on the dog鈥檚 head.

鈥淧eople seem to absorb a sense a of calm from Moby,鈥� she says. 鈥淚 often stand back and let Moby do his thing. We take the cues from him because he seems to know what to do.鈥�

Donna Goodwin is another 鈥淒r. Dog鈥� fan.

Approaching the end of a series of chemo treatments, Goodwin says everyone in the chemo room last Wednesday brightened visibly when Moby made his tail-wagging entrance.

鈥淭hat is such a gorgeous dog; I was in three weeks ago and he gave me a big kiss,鈥� she says. 鈥淚 am an animal person and he鈥檚 a gentle sweetie pie, so well-mannered, and he goes around and puts his head on people鈥檚 laps.鈥�

Polley got Moby when he was a year-and-a half-old from a good kennel, but says he was 鈥渙ne wild and crazy guy.鈥�

She took him to dog obedience classes and was allowed to practice his therapy skills in one of the unoccupied rooms of a care home she was working in.

On the day he went to get certified, all the care aides were asking 鈥渉as Moby passed?鈥�

That was almost eight years ago. Since then Moby and Polley have visited schools and seniors鈥� residences, beginning hospital visits about a year-and-a-half ago.

鈥淓ven though he was pretty high strung, I knew he was a gentle dog and once he started working, he just seemed to know what to do.鈥�

And so does Bean. The beagle and his owner Gail Viens visit Bastion Place on Mondays, where they are very well received.

The residents can easily relate to Bean, who has ALS and is wheeled around on his own chair on wheels.

Robin Greencorn, co-ordinator of volunteer services for Shuswap Lake General Hospital and Bastion Place, has worked with St. John Therapy Dogs in the past.

鈥淚 really believe in the program; in many cases have seen what it can do in residential sites,鈥� says Greencorn who has worked in health care for more than 25 years. 鈥淚t brightens their day, brings them out of their shell and makes them smile.鈥�

Greencorn says she has seen the therapy dog program working at all levels of care and she wanted to give it a try in the acute-care setting.

鈥淥ften in acute care, we don鈥檛 have time to address the spiritual needs of patients, especially at Christmas,鈥� she says, pointing out the hospital has an amazing medical staff and Moby鈥檚 visits brighten their day too. 鈥淲hen we bring in Moby, he helps with emotional healing.鈥�

Greencorn calls Polley an amazing handler and co-ordinator of eight therapy dogs who work in Salmon Arm and Sicamous.

鈥淲hen I brought it in, I had no idea it would be so successful,鈥� adds Greencorn. 鈥淭he response has far exceeded expectations; Moby has really made Shuswap Lake General Hospital special.鈥�