By Rita Raccoon, consumer and oddities correspondent
At Martin Army Community Hospital, a volunteer shift can begin with a 10- to 15-minute greeting at the front door. Wednesday, a certified therapy dog, has a way of turning the trip inside into a meet-and-greet whenever people spot her, according to a July report from DVIDS.
Rita has reviewed Wednesday’s calendar. She visits on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, which gives the schedule a tidy bit of name recognition before the first tail wag.
A volunteer who knows the whole hallway
Wednesday visits the hospital with her handler, Brittney LaFreniere, through the American Red Cross Volunteer Services program. DVIDS reports that the pair stop in the emergency department, physical therapy clinic, administrative offices and ultrasound department, with staff in some hallways keeping treats for therapy dogs.
The rounds have a practical rhythm and a friendly interruption built in. Wednesday greets people she has met before, and the story describes patients and staff pausing to visit. The front-door delay is a useful reminder that a popular volunteer may need a little extra time to reach the volunteer desk.
Wednesday began as the family dog
LaFreniere told DVIDS that the family originally wanted a pet, then Wednesday’s friendly personality led to puppy training, Canine Good Citizen certification and therapy-dog training. Wednesday earned her therapy certification shortly before the family moved to Fort Benning, where they found a volunteer role at Martin Army Community Hospital.
Wednesday’s visits also give patients, trainees and staff a natural opening to talk about pets and home. Her handler recalled that a patient’s farm-scented boots caught Wednesday’s attention and sparked laughter over several hospital visits. Rita considers this excellent reporting: sometimes a hallway conversation begins with a dog’s nose doing the introductions.
The best part of Wednesday’s schedule may be the part that refuses to stay on schedule. A greeting turns into a conversation; a familiar face gets a wag; the volunteer desk can wait another few minutes. Rita’s official finding: Wednesday works three days a week, and every shift appears to include a generous allowance for hellos.
Source: DVIDS, “More Than a Therapy Dog: How Wednesday Became a Friend to an Entire Hospital”, published July 22, 2026.
Leave a Reply