Dogtor of Love

A therapy dog is helping healthcare workers deal with the stress of the pandemic.

Us for 41nbc news at 6:00.

I'm shelby coates.

Tucker sargent will join us in a moment.

Coliseum medical center in macon ... has a new staff member ... that's helping doctors and nurses get through the pandemic.

41nbc's peyton lewis has more.

0:06-0:14 <<0:20-0:38> <0:49-1:01> "it's really wonderful getting to see people just laughing and just relaxing for just about 10 minutes before we move onto another floor.

Kiyyaa the therapy dog has been visiting healthcare workers at coliseum medical center during the pandemic.

His owner, dr. yomi gammada says he always wanted to bring his dog to work.

And now the pandemic has given him a reason to.

"i always wondered what if i could bring my dog?

Is there a way to bring my dog?

So i reached out to the director of patient experience about it in advance and she already did a lot of the paperwork on it, and before we knew it he was a certified therapy dog and he was coming to visit patients and staff members."

Every day, kiyyaa visits each floor of hospital to visit with staff.

Registered nurse, katie ford, says getting to pet a dog at work is uplifting.

"i'd never pass up love and hugs, and cuddles, especially from a dog.

It just makes my day that much better."

After each visit, kiyyaa is quarantined to make sure he's not carrying covid-19.

"could he be an asymptomatic carrier and pass on the virus to staff or patients?

So as a result of that i just keep him for about 10 days at home after each visit."

Although kiyyaa's time with each staff member is short, gammada says he's happy to see the impact man's best friend can make.

"i think he just provides them some comfort knowing that the dog-tor of love ... will continue visiting