Casper the therapy dog dies at age 15

Life

Casper the therapy dog dies at age 15

Casper, the first therapy dog employed at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, recently died at age 15. Casper's handler Lisa Kinsel, volunteer services manager at Children’s Scottish Rite, founded the Canines For Kids Program, among the first of its kind in the country.

Casper, a golden retriever and yellow Labrador mix, began his career at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta’s first four-legged employee in September 2009. (Contributed)

Casper's handler Lisa Kinsel, volunteer services manager at Children’s Scottish Rite, founded the Canines For Kids Program with Casper, among the first of its kind in the country. (Contributed)

Casper’s rounds at Children's took him to meet and comfort anxious young patients awaiting CT scans and MRIs. Casper would show patients how it was done by getting on the scanner first. (Contributed)

Casper’s schedule at Children’s started early in the morning around a 7 a.m. shift change. The therapy dog eagerly jumped out of the car and grabbed his leash out of the hand of his handler Lisa Kinsel. Casper was known to walk through the halls holding his leash in his mouth. (Contributed)

Casper spent much time in recovery, greeting patients waking up from surgery with a furry kiss, and warm, by-their-side companionship. One patient that Casper had a special bond with was Creed Campbell, of Roswell. Creed's mother Stepanie remembers, "One Christmas morning, Creed was particularly lethargic in the wake of a blood and marrow transplant. Lisa and the Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center staff arranged a special Casper visit, which sparked the only smiles we saw that day." (Contributed)

Creed Campbell's mother Stepanie also remembers: "In the spring of 2011, we almost lost Creed twice in one day. We called upon family to come say their goodbyes, including Lisa, her husband John and Casper. I laid in bed with Creed for four or five hours that day. Shortly after Casper came in the room, I told Creed that 'Caspy' was with him. Casper softly jumped into the bed, and I put his paw in Creed's hand. Shortly thereafter, Creed's arm started to move. He was moving! I yelled for someone to get his doctor. Then I witnessed what I know in my heart was a miracle: Creed opened his eyes and clenched Casper's paw. A nurse who was in the room with us said, 'That dog just brought that boy back to life.' And she was right." (Contributed)

A photo of Casper as a puppy before he started working as the first therapy dog at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta in 2009. The Canines For Kids Program at Children's now employs 14 therapy dogs. (Contributed)

Casper also worked in the hospital's Rehab unit. He once motivated a patient to walk when they didn't want to, but did if it meant they could walk the hallways together. (Contributed)

Casper, seen here in 2016, participated in the formerly annual Children's Healthcare of Atlanta Christmas Parade through Midtown. (Contributed)

During the holidays, Casper might wear a Santa-like outfit to cheer up patients at the hospital. (Contributed)

Awaiting his next patient assignment, Casper takes a minute to rest in the auditorium at Scottish Rite. (Contributed)

Like other hospital workers, Casper got vacation time, and liked to relax at the beach. (Contributed)

After working at Children's for almost ten years, Casper retired in 2018 and enjoyed his golden years with his very best friend, Lisa Kinsel, because after 28 years at Children Scottish Rite, Kinsel retired, too. Casper died in 2022 at age 15. (Contributed)

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Casper, a golden retriever and yellow Labrador mix, began his career at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta’s first four-legged employee in September 2009. (Contributed)

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