She’s under 3 feet tall, wears custom shoes, and has developed quite the fan club.
Meet Sweety, the miniature horse who’s become the ambassador of the Purina Family Pet Center at St. Louis Children’s Hospital.
Thanks to her visits, more families than ever are discovering the room inside the hospital where patients can reunite with their own pets without leaving the building or the medical technology they rely on.
Since its opening in 2016, the center has been a beloved part of the hospital’s holistic care approach. But in the past year — when they started bringing in Sweety and friends — it had an 87% increase in use.
“That’s some (miniature) horsepower,” said Valerie Lamping, volunteer services supervisor, who coordinates patient-pet reunions and events at the center. “Sweety brought a lot of visibility to the space. Some families may have heard about the room and forgotten to follow up, but once they saw a horse was there, they remembered they could bring their dog or cat too.”
Comforting connections
Children who stay five or more days can have their furry friend visit, pending medical approval.
“It gives them something to look forward to,” Lamping said. “If you know that in three days you’re going to see your pet, you’re anticipating that you’re going to be feeling good. Nurses are talking it up. And then, when the moment comes to go down to the room, a lot of times staff are cheering you on as you go.”
One toddler, hospitalized since birth, met the family dog for the first time in the safe, controlled environment of the Pet Center just before they were released to go home.
A teenager who had been working to become a dog trainer was able to continue the training hours required for certification by working with their own dog on-site.
“Of course, things had to be paused in their life due to medical challenges, but we were able to help them continue something that was really important to them,” Lamping said. “It was a way to support the whole patient.”
Sometimes, the visits are part of a family’s last memories together.
“It’s one of those experiences they want their child to have before they transition,” Lamping said. “It’s the hardest part of the job, but it’s so important to be able to do something positive and meaningful for the child and family.”
Bringing home to the hospital
The 300-square-foot room is designed to feel like a living room with a couch and coffee table that can be moved to accommodate a hospital bed and the occasional St. Bernard.
A welcome sign greets each child and their pet by name, and cat- and dog-themed music plays overhead.
“We ask families what their pet likes — from squeaky toys to stuffies and treats — and we have them on hand for the child to give to their pet,” Lamping said. “It’s all about making the experience as joyful and familiar as possible to bring a piece of home to the hospital.”
Feedback has been overwhelmingly positive. Every single survey — from smiley-face ratings by kids to a numbered scale for adults — has returned the highest possible score.
Spreading the word
Behind every pet reunion is a coordinated effort involving the hospital’s risk team, child life specialists, infection prevention staff, and clinical teams.
“No visit could happen without all of us working together,” Lamping said.
Nurses are often the first to suggest the Pet Center to families.
“They tell us sometimes patients haven’t gotten out of bed or don’t want to do their physical therapy, but this opportunity encourages them,” Lamping said. “And they say patients are often more positive after seeing their pet.”
Certified therapy dogs also help spread the word when they visit patient rooms. Each dog has a trading card featuring their picture, favorite toy, and birthday, plus contact information and a QR code to schedule a personal pet visit.
Animal encounters have also increased awareness. The center started hosting these events in 2024, when nine of them attracted 1,600 attendees. Lamping has 12 events planned for this year.
“You always want to do more,” she said. “To meet people where they are, to make it easier, more joyful, more meaningful.”
