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An eight-year-old volunteer has pawed her way into the hearts of local hospital patients and elderly.

Her mere presence is enough to cast smiles and cheer.

"When I bring in Molly, people just come alive … they take comfort from her," said Ruth Johnston.

For the last five years, Johnston has been bringing her German schnauzer into the hospital to bring optimism and joy to patients in the long-term care facility.

Molly makes her rounds two or three times a month, cuddling up to patients who coo over her stolen kisses and soulful eyes and feed her table scraps.

"When I bring her to the hospital she gets really excited, almost as if she knows she is doing something important," Johnston said.

"And I believe that keeping people company - especially if they don’t usually get visits - is an important job."

Johnston, who used to work at the hospital, saw many of the residents go without visits. They spent their whole life working or entertaining and then suddenly they were alone, she said.

"It really got to me and I wondered if Molly, who really loves people, could help brighten up their day with a little company."

She and her dog began to make rounds under the hospital’s pet therapy program - an initiative that brings in dogs, cats, horses and rabbits for residents to take comfort from.

Molly was a big hit, especially later when Johnston’s husband was admitted to long-term care.

"When I went down to see him, Molly would come. She’d be by his chair when he ate meals or on his lap when I took him for a ride around the hospital," she said. "He looked forward to those visits with his dog so much … and when other residents saw Molly was there, they’d want to spend time with her too."

The schnauzer is one of five canines that visit residents three times a month in long-term care. Another 13 pooches were approved as volunteers last week.

"I was blown away by the response. These are people who are willing to share their pet’s unconditional love with hospital patients," said Patty Heath, recreation therapist for the Didsbury hospital.

The program, which has been running for over 20 years, sparks conversation among patients and helps to bring a sense of normalcy and pleasure, Heath said.

"I don’t really know how to put the bond animals have with people into words. They just provide a level of comfort, residents can’t get from other people."

Genevieve Andrews chuckles when she recalls a few of her visits to the long-term care ward with her three-year-old bichon cross.

"I went up to this one lady, who was looking a little down and asked how she was doing. She said she was OK, but didn’t really want to talk," Andrews said.

"Then I told her Cooper was here and her whole face lit up. She didn’t care for conversation with me but Cooper was a whole different story."

Andrews has been bringing her charismatic dog to the hospital for the last two years, a few times a month.

When nurses see her scruffy pooch, they pop out of their offices to give him a pet and help her open the door to the long-term care ward. Patients’ faces glow at the first glimpse of Cooper.

"Hello Cooper. Come here Cooper," calls Eddie LaRocke, as he leans down to scratch the dog’s ears.

He can’t get enough of the little dog, feeding him treats from a bag Andrews provides and holding him on his lap. The little pooch, wriggling on his knee, reminds him of the chihuahua he left at home, he says.

"A lot of people used to have dogs but had to give them away, perhaps to come here. So having a visitor like this reminds them of what it’s like to have a pet," Heath said.