We know dogs can lift your spirits, and promote good health, but it seems they can alleviate pain too:

Edward’s Animal-Assisted Therapy program recently celebrated its 100,000th patient visit. The program has 84 dogs of 40 breeds.

Their handlers take them to patients in nine units in the hospital — essentially everywhere except the intensive-care unit and labor and delivery — and let patients pet the animals or have them sit on their beds.

Designed to alleviate patient pain, the program has had a demonstrable impact, said Patty Kaplan, who directs the program. An Edward study showed that patients who receive dog visits require half the pain medication of patients who do not, and outside studies corroborate the findings, she said.

[Via : Dogs lift patients' spirits at Edward Hospital -- chicagotribune.com.]

Have you been in a hospital or similar institution and had a visit from a dog? How did that make you feel? Tell us about it in the comments.