Feb. 6, 2026 — Meet Eclair, a therapy dog who has been visiting Encompass Health Rehabilitation Hospital of Abilene since 2019. Eclair spends time with patients in the therapy gym or in their rooms upon request. In the gym, Eclair's presence often encourages patients to participate in their therapy sessions.
“She can make treatment sessions fun by playing volleyball with the patients, playing fetch or just lying next to them on the mat tables for encouragement while they perform exercises,” said Luke Palmer, director of therapy operations at Encompass Health Abilene.
Therapy dogs have become an increasingly valuable tool in rehabilitation. Their visits can improve patients' moods and create opportunities to build on therapeutic goals. Because many patients have pets at home, working with a trained therapy dog can help patients practice everyday tasks such as walking or petting a dog. Therapy dogs also bring joy and comfort to what can often be a stressful experience.
“We have seen grumpy patients smile,” Palmer said. “We have had aphasic patients talk to her. We even had a flaccid hand begin to move when set on Eclair's back. She truly brings happiness to people in a dark time.”
The response to Eclair has been overwhelmingly positive at Encompass Health Abilene. Beyond her role in therapy, her presence brings smiles to both patients and staff.