Wendi Hirsch never imagined that working as a clinical psychologist would lead to her becoming the handler of a fluffy golden retriever that has achieved a kind of celebrity status.
When children fly to Kapiolani Medical Center for Women & Children for treatment, they’re given a doll of Tucker the dog to ease the journey. When they arrive, they meet the real deal.
Kids coming out of surgery and chemotherapy or going through physical and occupational therapy all get to pat Tucker’s big, soft head and invite him onto their bed for snuggles. And they love it.
"The program just really exploded because it’s been such a huge success for our patients and our families, our staff," Hirsch said in an interview Sunday.
Before Tucker, Hirsch didn’t own a dog. Her job was — and still is — to help kids and families feel happy, healthy and safe during and after treatment. But she never imagined toting around a blue leash as part of her job description.
"I was just lucky to be in the right job at the right time to get him, since I work in pediatrics here," she said. "I just lucked out."
Tucker isn’t considered a therapy dog like most other canines who visit hospitals on certain days. He is a facility dog who works as a full-time employee at the hospital, five days a week.
His service dog vest even sports an official hospital name badge: Tucker, Chief Canine Officer. (It also carries his Tucker trading cards.)
"I was trying to look to see if other children’s hospitals have facility dogs, and I can’t seem to find any," Hirsch said. "I certainly would hope that this, you know, concept takes off … but it is a different level of training and commitment."
Kapiolani CEO Martha Smith and Mo Maurer, co-founder of Maui-based Assistance Dogs of Hawaii, came up with the idea of having a facility dog at the hospital but had to wait for just the right one to come along. Maurer hand-picked him for the job when he was just a puppy, Hirsch said
After training Tucker intensively for about 18 months, Maurer donated him to the hospital. A philanthropic fund now covers the cost of his care.
Hirsch had to go through two weeks of training herself before she could become Tucker’s handler six years ago, and now she is responsible for every aspect of his life, from making sure he attends numerous community events to meeting high grooming standards because he works around sick children.
"It’s an endless process," she said, noting that Tucker is fine with being extra clean because he loves baths.
The hospital recently honored Hirsch with its Emma Kauikeolani Wilcox Award, which takes its name from Kapiolani’s predecessor, Kauikeolani Children’s Hospital. The award recognized employees who best represent the hospital’s mission.
Hirsch, who didn’t know she had been nominated, said she was stunned.
"I have the job I always hoped and dreamt I would get but never expected it to be as amazing as this," she said. "And so to sort of be recognized for that was icing that I didn’t expect or need, but I’m totally grateful for it."
Hirsch’s love for Tucker and the work he does is obvious.
She beams while talking about him, wears a dainty silver dog-bone necklace with "Tucker" etched in the center and has a cellphone case that’s covered in Tucker photos.
She proudly hands out Tucker trading cards and Tucker dolls, dresses him up as Santa Paws at Christmas and manages the Tucker Hirsch Facebook and Instagram accounts so fans can keep in touch.
Tucker has a party every year around his birthday, Oct. 19, and patients who have been discharged often come back to celebrate, Hirsch said.
"They have a relationship with him that spans years, sometimes, while they’re in the hospital and (as an) outpatient," she said. "So it’s amazing, it really is."
Tucker is great at what he does, Hirsch said, because he is completely insensitive to his environment — nothing around him fazes him — while being extremely sensitive to people. He can walk into a room and know whether a child is ready to be playful or just needs to be soothed.
"He has this great way of making everybody feel special."
