Illustration of dogs wearing therapy dog vests.
Dogs On Call therapy dogs handed out valentines complete with custom illustrations of each dog. (Illustration by Helen Bodde, VCU social media and design intern, @irlabuela)

Feb. 13, 2023

Canine cupids

When VCU Dogs On Call volunteers hand out valentines, recipients get a dose of their unconditional love.

By Elinor Frisa

The Virginia Commonwealth University Dogs On Call therapy dogs know a lot about love and affection — they spend their days warming the hearts of patients, visitors, students, faculty and staff. The highly trained fuzzballs, along with their human handlers, visit the VCU Medical Center and other VCU Health clinical facilities as well as student events on campus to spread their love and calming presence to anyone who needs a feel-good moment.

Wet noses, wagging tails and unconditional love were on hand when the Dogs On Call therapy dogs passed out valentines on both of VCU's campuses. (Video by Max Schlickenmeyer, Enterprise Marketing and Communications)

This February, the pups handed out valentines to passersby in Main Hospital and The Commons, reminding everyone who paused to give a belly rub or pat a silky head that love is all around us and it’s important every once in a while to simply stop and smell the roses. VCU News caught our favorite four-legged cupids on camera as they worked their magic.

A therapy dog being petted.
Man kneeling down to pet a therapy dog.
Students interacting with a therapy dog.
A therapy dog and its handler.
Woman in scrubs holding a valentines card and interacting with a therapy dog.
Woman sitting on the floor and petting a therapy dog.
A therapy dog.
Students interacting with a therapy dog and its handler.

Photos by Tom Kojcsich, Enterprise Marketing and Communications.