When it comes to knowing who could really use a hug, Roo 鈥� the newest addition to Peace Arch Hospital鈥檚 emergency department 鈥� has an innate sense about her.

Whether the individual is scared, upset, nervous or what-have-you, the gentle four-legged staffer gravitates to them, leaning in to offer her support, or simply putting her head in their lap.

鈥淚t is an amazing impact,鈥� said Christine Simmons, of the difference she鈥檚 seen Roo have on those around her. Young and old alike, 鈥減eople are just in awe of her.鈥�

鈥淵ou have to see it to believe it.鈥�

Roo, an accredited facility dog, was raised and trained by Pacific Assistance Dogs Society (PADS), and brought onboard at PAH 鈥渢o support and care for our patients who are experiencing trauma, by providing a calming influence and touch,鈥� a March tweet announcing the yellow-Lab-golden-retriever鈥檚 arrival proclaims.

Meet Roo 鈥� the newest addition to PAH's ER team! 馃惥 Roo was raised + trained by Pacific Assistance Dog Society (PADS) in Burnaby, BC and is here to support and care for our patients who are experiencing trauma by providing a calming influence and touch. Welcome, Roo! 馃挋馃惥

鈥� Peace Arch Hospital Foundation (@pahfoundation)

The now five-year-old came to Simmons 鈥� who works as an emergency-room social worker at both Peace Arch and Surrey Memorial hospitals 鈥� almost three years ago.

A South Surrey resident who came to health care after 20 years with the Ministry of Children and Family Development, Simmons said she hadn鈥檛 had any connections to PADS previous to Roo, but put up her hand for the opportunity to become a handler because she 鈥渒new this was going to be helping the kids and families I was working with.鈥�

To prepare for the commitment 鈥� which Simmons describes as 鈥渉uge鈥� 鈥� Simmons researched PADS, underwent training, and reached out to 鈥渁 whole bunch鈥� of fellow PADS handlers across Canada.

Everyone was 鈥渆xtremely helpful鈥� so supportive,鈥� she said.

Roo, Simmons noted, is not a service dog 鈥� she simply wasn鈥檛 born to do things like push elevator buttons or open refrigerator doors.

Every PADS dog is purpose-bred 鈥� some are naturals at performing such tasks as retrieving items or turning lights on and off, while others are quickly identified as having the perfect personality to offer comfort.

Dogs like Roo 鈥渁re chosen for these roles because of their demeanour,鈥� said PADS鈥� Meredith Areskoug.

鈥淭hey are resilient and able to bounce back quickly after something potentially stressful occurs,鈥� she continued. 鈥淭hey are also sweet natured and have the ability to seek out people that need their support.鈥�

Roo was on shift when just such a person recently arrived at the emergency ward.

The young lady 鈥渨as really anxious because she didn鈥檛 know what was going on with her, with her own body,鈥� Simmons said.

However, 鈥渟he just immediately was super-calm when Roo came to visit.鈥�

鈥淚t took her mind off whatever she was going through, which is what Roo is for.鈥�

Roo has also been 鈥渟uper supportive鈥� to families that have experienced a loss, as well as to hospital staff and paramedics who at times feel the weight of their jobs, Simmons added.

鈥淎fter the trauma has died down鈥� I will take Roo around the nursing stations and she鈥檒l just be there,鈥� Simmons said. 鈥淭hey鈥檒l literally stop what they鈥檙e doing, and they need a cuddle from Roo.鈥�

Before Roo interacts with anyone, Simmons said she always checks first to ensure the dog鈥檚 attention is wanted. After that, how much time Roo spends with the individual or group varies 鈥� sometimes it鈥檚 just five minutes, other times 鈥渋t will be hours.鈥�

Simmons emphasized that Roo and other dogs who do similar work in the community are not on the job 24/7. Roo does not accompany Simmons on every shift, and not for a full 12 hours either. Such a schedule would simply be too much for the dog, Simmons said.

鈥淎nd she鈥檒l tell you,鈥� Simmons added, referring to signals Roo gives that she has reached her limit.

Sometimes, Roo will simply stop dead in her tracks towards the end of a shift, 鈥渁nd you have to be mindful,鈥� Simmons said.

When she鈥檚 not working, Roo enjoys camping, playing with Fenway 鈥� her brother from another mother 鈥� and other plain-and-simple family stuff.

Dogs like Roo cost thousands of dollars to train, and Simmons said sponsorship by the Rotary Club of South Surrey was 鈥渧ery instrumental鈥� in preparing Roo for her role. Late club member Renee Nicholson was a particularly avid supporter of PADS, Simmons noted.

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She emphasized that becoming a handler, while hugely rewarding, is not something to be taken lightly.

鈥淚 think initially people would be like, oh, this is a great idea. But it is a very huge responsibility to have a dog like Roo,鈥� Simmons said.

In addition to having specific commands and training that must be continually enforced, 鈥淩oo can鈥檛 be alone for more than four hours at a time.鈥�

Veterinary bills can also be hefty, Simmons said.

鈥淏ut I鈥檝e also seen for myself the impact that these dogs have had. I鈥檝e seen it in court, I鈥檝e seen it in the hospitals, I鈥檝e seen it supporting schools.鈥�

Other working PADS dogs have included Koltan, who was at Surrey Memorial Hospital from 2017-2019.

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Sadly, Koltan died last summer from leukemia.

Another, Caber, retired in 2019 after nine years on the job. The yellow Lab was Canada鈥檚 first accredited justice facility dog.

Simmons described any publicity that raises awareness of Roo and the difference dogs like her are making as 鈥渁wesome.鈥�

Follow her on Instagram, at , or on Facebook, at

For more information about PADS, visit