Millie’s Last Shift

ICAN Millie with her handler Ginnie Pellissier and a patient.

After nearly a decade of service, Millie, the beloved facility dog at Ascension St. Vincent Pediatric Therapy Center and Peyton Manning Children's Hospital, is hanging up her working vest and beginning a well-earned retirement.

For the past nine years, Millie has been a trusted member of the pediatric therapy team. Working alongside her handler, speech-language pathologist Ginnie Pellissier, she supported children in speech, physical, and occupational therapy, helping transform treatment sessions into meaningful opportunities for growth and achievement.

Throughout her career, Millie mastered more than 60 specialized tasks designed to support therapeutic objectives. She helped children learn everyday skills such as tying their shoes, brushing their teeth, taking medication, and getting dressed independently. In therapy sessions, she encouraged patients to practice speech sounds and verb tenses, improve muscle strength, throw and catch balls, navigate balance beams, climb stairs, and tackle activities that built confidence and independence.

Millie helps patients strengthen critical thinking skills through interactive games that encourage problem-solving, decision-making, and fine motor coordination during therapy sessions.

For many children, Millie made therapy feel less intimidating and more rewarding. Whether encouraging a hesitant patient to try a new activity or motivating a child to keep going through a difficult exercise, she had a special way of inspiring effort and perseverance.

Yet beyond her clinical contributions, those who knew Millie will remember the joy she brought to the therapy center every day.

A wagging tail, a playful interaction, or simply her presence could brighten the mood of a difficult day. Children looked forward to seeing her, families celebrated accomplishments alongside her, and staff members often found themselves smiling simply because Millie was nearby. She had a remarkable way of connecting with people and bringing positive energy wherever she went.

Mille’s badge at Ascension St. Vincent.

Pellissier recalls one moment that perfectly captures who Millie is.

One day, Millie approached a young patient she had never met before. It was not unusual for her to seek out children who needed a little extra encouragement. Normally, she would stop briefly before moving on to her next task. This time, however, she stayed.

Millie quietly walked up to the boy and allowed him to wrap his arms around her. Minutes passed, and she never moved away. She remained by his side until he was ready to let go.

What Pellissier learned later made the moment even more profound. The boy had recently experienced severe personal trauma, some of the most difficult circumstances a child can face. Somehow, Millie seemed to understand that he needed something different in that moment and responded in the way only she could.

"She knew she was needed there," Pellissier said.

And that was Millie.

Millie’s first day of work in 2017.

While she was trained to perform dozens of specialized tasks, some of her most memorable contributions came in moments that could never be measured on a therapy chart. Colleagues often witnessed her unique ability to connect with children in ways that fostered trust and opened the door to meaningful progress.

Millie's journey began with specialized training through the Indiana Canine Assistant Network (ICAN), a Zionsville-based nonprofit that prepares and places assistance dogs with children, adults, and Veterans throughout Indiana. After graduating from ICAN's program in June 2017, she joined Ascension St. Vincent, where she would spend the next nine years serving patients and families.

Her story also highlights the growing importance of facility dogs in healthcare settings. Unlike therapy dogs, facility dogs undergo extensive task-based training and work as integrated members of a clinical care team. They are trained to support treatment objectives, increase patient motivation, reduce barriers to participation, and help clinicians incorporate therapeutic activities into engaging experiences.

Millie riding a scooter at work, where children would pull her to help develop dexterity skills.

For children receiving therapy, a facility dog can transform repetitive exercises into purposeful interactions that support clinical goals. For healthcare professionals, these highly trained dogs are valuable partners who enhance treatment plans and strengthen the therapeutic environment.

Millie's final day at Ascension came in August, marking the end of a remarkable career. As she begins retirement, Pellissier says her longtime partner is ready to enjoy the simple pleasures of being a dog.

"She's going to enjoy lying in the sun, chasing squirrels, doing all the things she's never had time to do before," Pellissier said.

While Millie may be stepping away from her official duties, her influence will endure through the patients, families, and colleagues she worked alongside.

Millie.

"I hope Millie's legacy is measured by the lives she helped change," Pellissier said. "She was so much more than just a dog in the therapy gym. She was a skilled partner who motivated children, encouraged participation, and helped make therapy meaningful and engaging. She showed families, clinicians, and healthcare organizations what a facility dog can bring to a pediatric team, and I hope that impact continues long after her retirement."

For nearly a decade, Millie spent her days showing up wherever she could make a difference. Now, after years of service to children and families across Central Indiana, it's her turn to slow down. While her vest may be retired, the memories she created, the smiles she inspired, and the paw prints she left behind will remain part of Ascension St. Vincent and ICAN forever.