Saskatoon therapy dog's work captured in new children's book

Murphy knows instinctively what people need.

"Our job is to bring a smile," Murphy's companion Jane Smith said.

Murphy is a bit of a celebrity in Saskatoon. It's appropriate that there is a new bookoutlining his efforts to ease suffering.

He will put his head right on their shoulder and they will cry.- Jane Smith

"He loves to snuggle with the children," said Smith.

Murphy is a therapy dog, a pioneer in the field. He is the first St. John Ambulance therapy dog to work in a Canadian emergency room.

The book, Murphy Mondays, was written by Jane Smithand illustrated by Wendi Nordell. It's for children. It tells the story of the English Springer Spaniel's work at Royal University Hospital.

• Mondays with Murphy: Therapy dog calms Saskatoon ER patients

Murphy's gift

Time and time again, Smith said, she's seen Murphy meet and then ease the physical pain and emotional suffering of children and adults in the ER.

"Murphy gets up on the bed and he will put his head right on their shoulder and they cry and talk to the dog for about 10 minutes and after 10 minutes they normally are sitting up and talking to me with a smile on their face."

Murphy extends that comfort to hospital staff who in the high stress environment.

The essence of Murphy

Nordell, the illustrator, has not met Smithor Murphybut said she was able to channel the collective generosity and kindness of the two.

"It's like this book was supposed to happen and it just kind of flowed," Nordell said in an interview with CBC Radio's Saskatoon Morning.

Smith said Nordell'sillustrations were just right.

"She's really captured the essence of Murphy and she captured the essence of me so much without the wrinkles!" Smith said.

Murphy Mondays will be officially launched at McNally Robinson Booksellers in Saskatoon on November 17, 2018. The proceeds from the book go to the Royal University Hospital Foundation and the Saskatchewan St. John Ambulance Therapy Dog Program..