After more than a decade of spreading smiles to children at Sparrow Hospital, Eddie has retired

Mike Ellis, Lansing State Journal
·2 min read
Eddie, who served 13 years at Sparrow Hospital as a therapy dog, and his owner Jennifer Good are seen in this undated photo.
Eddie, who served 13 years at Sparrow Hospital as a therapy dog, and his owner Jennifer Good are seen in this undated photo.

LANSING — After more than a decade of wagging his tail for patients and staff in exchange for pets, Eddie, the longest-serving a medical therapy dog at E.W. Sparrow Hospital, has retired.

"Eddie is special," said Jennifer Good, a retired second grade teacher, foster dog owner and Eddie's partner. “Ever since he was a puppy, he displayed traits to be a great therapy dog. And he certainly was.”

Good and Eddie have been together since someone was supposed to pick up the then-puppy to live in his forever home. Good said she's never stopping giving thanks that the other person never showed, and that Eddie stayed.

More: Legendary therapy dog retires

Therapy dogs are a part of Sparrow’s patient care at Sparrow Children’s Center. Eddie was among 14 therapy dogs, each with its own promotional baseball-like playing card, hospital officials said in a press release. The dogs work in addition to six full-time dogs at C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital in Ann Arbor. Mott and E.W. Sparrow are among the few hospitals with full-time therapy dogs and handlers, the release noted.

Shortly before his retirement at the end of the holiday season, Good took Eddie back to Sparrow for one more visit to say goodbye.

“Eddie has always been such a sweet calming presence for both our patients and staff,” said Tracy Feazel, Sparrow volunteer coordinator. “We celebrate him as he goes into retirement and enjoys the rest of his years.”

The 14-year-old schnauzer mix served for more than 13 years, but has begun to slow down, and Good said he's looking forward to retirement, with treats and couch-sitting on the agenda.

Eddie, Sparrow Hospital's longest-serving therapy dog wears his ID badge like all good employees.
Eddie, Sparrow Hospital's longest-serving therapy dog wears his ID badge like all good employees.

"It's kind of sad. It's always sad when your dog gets old," Good said.

Sparrow's therapy dogs visit the pediatric areas twice a week, as well as hospice and other treatment areas where they can be soothing. Each dog is a little different, officials noted, and they are each qualified for a range of therapies — from oodles of cuddles and playing ball to just being there.

The volunteer dogs go through health and temperament screening by Therapy Dogs International, a volunteer group based in New Jersey.

The dogs also get enlisted to help in times of crisis, some of the area's therapy dogs played roles in the wake of the Michigan State University shooting in 2023.

Sparrow Hospital's therapy dogs each have their own "trading" card. Eddie, who has retired after 13 years, is at top left.
Sparrow Hospital's therapy dogs each have their own "trading" card. Eddie, who has retired after 13 years, is at top left.

Contact Mike Ellis at mellis@lsj.com or 517-267-0415

This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: Longest-serving therapy dog at Sparrow Hospital 'retires'