November 13, 2025
EDMONTON – The Stollery Children’s Hospital is proud to introduce its newest Child Life Services team member: Pumbaa, a professionally trained, internationally accredited facility dog who comforts and supports children and families during their hospital stay.
Pumbaa joins the Stollery’s Child Life Services team as part of its commitment to providing world-class, family-centred care. Specially trained by Dogs with Wings, an internationally accredited assistance dog-training program, Pumbaa works alongside certified Child Life Specialists to help reduce stress and anxiety for kids facing medical procedures, treatments, or long hospital stays.
“Pumbaa has a unique way of connecting with kids, bringing smiles and calm during some of their most difficult moments,” says Angela Mark, a Child Life Specialist and Pumbaa’s handler. “Dogs have an amazing ability to provide comfort in a way humans can’t, and we’re already seeing Pumbaa make a big difference, simply by being present.”
Facility dogs, such as Pumbaa, are different from therapy or service dogs — they are specifically trained to work in clinical settings, supporting goal-directed interventions for a wide range of patients. They provide emotional support, bringing a calming and comforting presence; physical support, helping with therapy goals, such as going for walks in the hospital; and procedural support, helping children prepare for medical interventions.
Pumbaa, a two-year-old yellow Labrador retriever, joined the team in June and spent his first couple of months getting acquainted with the hospital. He has since settled into his new role, making fast friends with patients, families and staff alike.
One of Pumbaa’s first patients was four-year-old Jake Davis, who underwent a liver transplant in August. Jake’s parents give a lot of credit to Pumbaa for their son’s recovery.
“We met Pumbaa when Jake was still in the intensive care unit,” says Jake’s mom Ashley Davis. “Pumbaa would come lay beside Jake and Jake was just touching his paw. And then slowly, as Jake became more mobile with the help of physiotherapy, they started to be able to play together on the floor and then walk together. Pumbaa has been a big part of Jake's therapy. He can convince Jake to do things that all the adults in the room can’t.”
Jake’s dad, Mat Davis concurs. “Pumbaa has been pivotal in helping Jake feel comfortable with things that are inevitable, like the bandage changes, and the needles that have to happen, and holding still for certain ultrasounds and X-rays,” he says. “I think it’s Pumbaa’s calming nature. He really helped Jake through a traumatic time.”
Pumbaa is the first dedicated Child Life Services team facility dog in Canada. His job at the hospital is made possible thanks to the Stollery Children’s Hospital Foundation and its donors.
“Thanks to our generous donors, the Stollery Children’s Hospital Foundation is able to fund specialized programs like the Facility Dog Program – giving Pumbaa the opportunity to bring comfort to Stollery kids and families – making the hospital experience a little less overwhelming,” says Sue McCoy, Vice President of Philanthropy, Stollery Children’s Hospital Foundation.
Ongoing costs associated with Pumbaa’s support are covered by foundation donors, including food, supplies and veterinary bills. Pumbaa spends most of his time with Angela Mark, his primary handler. He lives in her home and works the same nearly full-time shift Angela does. When not with her, secondary handler Melanie Dziwenka steps in to guide Pumbaa through his day.
Alberta Health Services provides a range of healthcare services for more than five million adults and children living in Alberta. Our mission is to provide excellent, patient-focused healthcare that is accessible and sustainable for all Albertans. Our current focus is on reducing emergency department wait times, improving EMS response times, increasing access to surgeries, and improving patient flow.
The Stollery Children’s Hospital Foundation advances children’s health care right in your own backyard by funding specialized care at the Stollery Children’s Hospital and in communities across northern Alberta: state-of-the-art equipment and facilities; sub-specialty education to train the brightest medical minds; leading-edge research to discover new treatments and cures; and specialized programs that improve family-centred care, child and youth addiction and mental health services, and patient and family outcomes. Together, we can give all kids the best chance to live a long and healthy life.
