For the past five years, Finnie has brought joy to patients and staff at the Health Sciences Centre (HSC). Every Thursday at lunch time, Finnie faithfully waits at the HSC Foundation Donor Celebration Centre to greet anyone who needs the comfort of a wagging tail.
Finnie and his owner, Angelique Lynn Duseigne, are proud members of the St. John Ambulance Therapy Dog Program at HSC. The program is supported by HSC Foundation donors—the Just Like New To You Thrift Shop, which is entirely run by volunteers, many of whom are retired nurses. The shop has raised close to $1 million for HSC, including $10,000 that supports the ongoing costs of training and onboarding of the therapy dog teams.
When the pandemic hit, Finnie quickly became a cherished figure among HSC staff, offering much-needed solace amidst their hectic schedules.
One of Finnie’s most poignant missions occurred after the tragic Carberry bus crash in 2023. As part of the Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) K9 team, Finnie took on the important role of comforting grieving families in HSC’s ICU.
Though Just Like New To You’s support of the HSC Foundation, Duseigne and Finnie, and the rest of the Therapy Dog Program team, can keep doing what they do best—bringing a sense of calm to patients and staff at HSC, and proving that sometimes, a furry friend is the best medicine of all.
To make your gift to the HSC Foundation, visit hscfoundation.mb.ca or call 204-515-5612 or 1-800-679-8493 (toll-free).