At Miller Children’s & Women’s Hospital, we are proud to have two incredible facility dogs as key members of our Rehabilitation Center team. Zeta, our first facility dog, has been bringing joy and comfort to our patients since 2018. Joining us in 2024, Karat has quickly become an integral part of our team, working full-time alongside Zeta.
Our facility dogs, Zeta and Karat, along with their dedicated handlers, play a vital role in our patients' rehabilitation journey. They provide animal-assisted therapy during physical, speech and occupational therapies, helping to promote progress towards rehab goals. By offering an extra layer of support and motivation, Zeta and Karat help ease the stress of hospitalization for both patients and their loved ones, making their stay more comforting and positive.
Zeta and Karat were generously provided by Canine Companions. Canine Companion Facility dogs are professionally trained to work in healthcare, education and criminal justice settings. The facility dogs are carefully matched with licensed professionals who completed two weeks of intensive training at the Canine Companions campus with each dog.
Meet our Facility Dogs
Zeta

Fun Facts About Zeta
- Breed: Black lab/golden retriever mix
- Birthday: May 28, 2016
- Favorite Vacation Spot: Cayucos, CA
- Favorite Games: Retrieving Stomp Rockets, playing tug of war and playing with her best friend Karat!
- Favorite Toy: Stuffed puppy and monkey
Karat

Karat Fun Facts
- Breed: Black lab/golden retriever mix
- Birthday: May 1, 2022
- Favorite Toy: Squeaky balls and stuffies.
- Favorite Activities: Playing fetch, scratches behind her ears, belly rubs, helping kids at the hospital and playing with her best friend Zeta!
- Dislikes: Pats on the head and water sprinklers
Meet the Handlers
Shelly Forcier, OTR/L, IBCLC

Shelly Forcier is an occupational therapist at Miller Children’s and Women’s Hospital. She has worked in the pediatric rehab department for the past 29 years. She has been Zeta’s primary handler since 2018. Both Shelly and Zeta are excited to have Team Karat join the department!
Allison Dorsey, PT, DPT

Allison Dorsey is a physical therapist at Miller Children’s and Women’s Hospital. She has worked in the pediatric rehab department for the past 12 years. She is Karat’s primary handler and has always dreamed of working alongside a facility dog!
Gabriele Herold, PT

Gabriele Herold is a physical therapist at Miller Children’s and Women’s Hospital. She has worked in the pediatric rehab department for the past 25 years. She is Karat’s secondary handler!