Man with schizophrenia went to four hospitals in the months before killing a random pedestrian

There is no quick route into the office for the newest therapist at St. Joe's forensic psychiatry program.

Patients are constantly seeking consultations from the moment Scout steps inside the West 5th hospital campus each morning. Random nurses, doctors and other health workers take him aside repeatedly in the halls for a collegial chat.

Also, to scratch his fluffy ears and caress his furry back. That's because Scout is an enormous and enormously adorable therapy dog - and the biggest star at the hospital campus on the Mountain brow.

It takes me about half an hour to get to my desk each day because so many people want to say hello," said Ashley Palmer, chuckling. The recreation therapist is both co-worker and after-hours caretaker to the 130-pound, waist-high Leonberger, who at 20 months old, is still growing.

We never turn anyone away ... We always stop so anyone who wants to say hello can say hello."

While everyone gets to greet him, Scout belongs to the hospital's forensic psychiatry unit, where he works his magic as dog in residence" courtesy of a program hospital staff believe is unique in the country.

I think we're the only forensic psychiatry program that I know of that has its own dog," said program head Dr. Gary Chaimowitz, who expressed hope that the Paws for Wellness program will eventually expand to include additional dogs. So far, it has been very successful."

The forensic psychiatry unit is home - ideally temporarily, but sometimes forever - to many mentally ill patients who have run afoul of the law and been deemed unfit to stand trial or not criminally responsible (NCR) by a judge.

Some patients can spend months or even years in the program before the Ontario Review Board decides they are ready for conditional or absolute discharge.

Practically, that means many unit residents are lonely, said Chaimowitz. Some have lost touch with the outside world," including family and friends, and face restrictions on everything from internet access to human touch.

In some cases, these are people who may be having some of the worst experiences of their lives," he said. So it is amazing to see the unbelievable brightening of their faces, the smiles from ear-to-ear ... when they touch this dog."

Scout is a stress reliever for hospital staff, too, he noted. St. Joe's is conducting a study to see if daily dog therapy lessens anxiety and boosts quality of life in the workplace.

Pet therapy aimed at improving social, emotional or mental functioning is not a new idea, at St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton or elsewhere.

In the past, the forensic psychiatry program brought in dogs from a specialized agency for periodic visits and it occasionally hosts special petting zoo" events featuring ponies, baby goats and on at least one occasion, an alpaca.

But the COVID pandemic paused all visiting paws for nearly two years. That's when the hospital decided to get its own, dedicated therapy dog.

A local breeder donated shaggy, sweet-tempered Scout and hospital foundation donations are so far covering the costs of feeding and caring for the dog, who lives with Palmer.

Scout has been on the job for nearly six months and sports his own staff ID card clipped to his collar. He definitely knows how to turn it off and on for work," said Palmer, noting Scout is more of a playful, big barking puppy at home.

On the job, he stays largely quiet and seems to have a nose for boundaries, giving space" to those who want to appreciate him from a distance but willing to lay his head in the lap of residents who look like they need some love.

He truly is a gentle giant," she said, rubbing her motley-coloured co-worker's ears affectionately during a visit with The Spectator last week. Even in high-stress situations, he just brings this feeling of calm."

Depending on the day and the ward restrictions, you can find Scout chasing a stick in a courtyard, learning new tricks from a delighted group of unit residents or soaking up pats one-on-one in a quiet corner.

Palmer said she marvels at the difference she sees in dog-loving patients who otherwise shun recreational programing. Scout opens a dialogue" with individuals in a way human therapists sometimes cannot, she said - a big win for a program seeking to prepare residents for reintegration with the outside world.

He just brings this sense of normalcy for people. It's like he's their dog, too."

Matthew Van Dongen is a transportation and environment reporter at The Spectator. mvandongen@thespec.com