If you’ve ever spent time in a hospital, you know the pace never slows down. Alarms beep, phones ring, and nurses move from room to room, giving everything they’ve got to care for others. But who’s there for them when the pressure builds and the smiles start to fade?
That’s where Rex comes in. He’s not your typical hero. He’s small, has four legs, and a squishy face that makes everyone smile. But in a place where stress and exhaustion are part of everyday life, he’s making a real difference.
In this article, we’re sharing the story of how this sweet TomKings Frenchie became a trusted therapy dog, supporting hospital staff during their hardest moments. You’ll even hear from the nurses whose lives he’s touched.
Discover how one little dog is showing what so many French Bulldogs do best: lifting spirits, offering emotional support and making a real difference in people’s mental well-being.
From Home to Hospital: How Rex Began His Mission
A TomKings Pup’s Journey to New York
Rex joined Valerie’s family in New York four years ago, as a bright-eyed little Frenchie from TomKings. From the moment he arrived, it was clear he wasn’t just another cute puppy. He had something extra. A softness in his energy, a calm presence that people noticed right away.
He quickly became a beloved member of the family, always eager to snuggle, sit close, and quietly follow his humans around the house. But his gentle personality reached beyond the home. Friends, neighbors, even strangers on the street would light up when they met him. It was as if Rex just knew how to be there for people in the exact way they needed.
Valerie’s Mission
Valerie, who teaches nursing and works in healthcare education, saw this gift for what it truly was. She knew firsthand how much emotional weight nurses carry every day. Long hours, high stress, little time to rest. And she saw how Rex had the power to change someone’s mood in just a few minutes.
That’s when the idea took root.
With love and patience, she began the process of training Rex as a therapy and emotional support dog. Not to perform tricks or tasks, but simply to do what he did best: be present, bring calm, and offer comfort.
It was the beginning of something truly special. And before long, Rex was ready to start sharing that gift with others, far beyond his own family.
Frenchie at Work: What Does Rex Bring to the Nurses?
Rex visits the hospital once a week, giving nurses a short moment of calm in the middle of their busy shift. They meet in a quiet room, away from the noise and pressure. It’s just them and Rex, showing up with his gentle energy and that unmistakable Frenchie charm.
He doesn’t need to do anything special. Simply by being there, Rex creates a different kind of space. He greets each nurse with gentle enthusiasm, rests beside them, and often leans in as if he knows exactly what they need. Sometimes he curls up quietly. Other times he nudges a hand or looks up with that familiar Frenchie gaze that says, “I’m here.”
These short visits give nurses a chance to pause, breathe, and feel grounded again. Many return to their unit calmer, more focused, and emotionally reset. What seems like a small break often turns into the most restorative part of their day. All thanks to the presence of a little dog who seems to understand more than words ever could.
Science Confirms It: The Rex Effect Is Real
Valerie’s Study
What Rex brings to the hospital isn’t just something people feel in the moment: it has been studied, documented, and published. Valerie, Rex’s owner and a nursing professor, led a six-week program in a private hospital on Long Island, New York. Eleven nurses took part, each scheduling weekly sessions with him during their shifts.
The results were clear. Nurses reported less stress, better mood, and more motivation after even short visits with Rex. Many said they returned to their patients more focused and ready to give better care.
In the Nurses’ Own Words
As nurses spent time with Rex, researchers took note of what was said in those quiet, emotional moments. These words weren’t planned or polished. They were honest responses from people who needed a pause and found comfort in a small Frenchie’s presence:
“I can feel the tension running out of my body. You make me feel so calm.”
“I’m so happy! I love you!”
“I definitely need you today.”
“This is exactly what we needed today.”
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What makes Rex’s work so powerful is how deeply the nurses felt the impact. Later on, in one-on-one interviews, some spoke about how much Rex helped them during an incredibly demanding time. Again and again, they described not just a moment of relief but real, lasting benefit:
“It was a nice break from all that. At times it was a forced break which you need sometimes. You had to put things down and go see Rex. It was enjoyable. It was a little bit of a mind reset. Let go of all that stuff for 10 mins or so. Connecting with the dog, force yourself to take a break from the stress. Unplug from everything coming at you, then go back, it helps prioritize better, get a new start.”
“After the visits, I felt calm, more relaxed, more focused. I feel like it helped me give better care.”
“Being able to step away from all that and recoup always made me so much happier. And then being able to go back, I just felt more focused and less stressed and able to provide better care because of that.”
“Being with Rex helped improve my mood, lowered my stress levels. He even reduced my loneliness, because sometimes working with patients and the patient load, you get so overwhelmed, even though you’re surrounded by people. It can also be lonely. You’re the nurse responsible for the total care and collaboration of this patient. It can get so lonely. And he increased my motivation to get back to work with an increased activity level, too.”
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All of this shows that animal therapy is not only a nice idea, it also brings measurable benefits. Research has found that spending time with therapy dogs can lower stress hormones, reduce anxiety, improve mood, and even increase job satisfaction among healthcare workers.
Rex’s visits confirmed this in a very personal way. For the nurses who met him each week, those ten minutes weren’t just a pleasant break. They were a proven tool to fight burnout, to feel calmer in the middle of pressure, and to keep their energy and compassion alive throughout the day.
If you’d like to dive deeper, you can read the full study here: Nurses’ Best Friend? The Lived Experiences of Nurses Who Utilized Dog Therapy in the Workplace
The Rex Effect Lives in Every Frenchie
For us at TomKings, Rex’s story is more than heartwarming. It’s a reminder of everything we love about Frenchies. They are true companions and wonderful emotional support animals who sense when you are down and lift you up in a way only they can.
It is no surprise that so many of our TomKings family members share how their pups have changed their lives and supported their mental health. Read some of these beautiful stories here!
We are incredibly proud of Rex for the wonderful work he is doing in New York. And we are deeply grateful to Valerie, whose dedication and love made this possible. Her vision turned a sweet family dog into a true source of healing for others.
To support her mission, we have also contributed another Frenchie to the program. Our hope is that she will soon be ready to follow in Rex’s pawprints and bring the same comfort, joy and strength to nurses and patients who need it most.
Join the Mission, Be Part of the Story
If you live near Long Island and have a Tomkings Frenchie, you and your pup could join Valerie in this beautiful mission. She is looking for more families who want to share the healing presence of their dogs with nurses who need it most.
No ESA certificate yet? Don’t worry, Valerie and her team will guide you through every step. You can reach out via one of these points of contact:
📧 vespositokubanick@gmail.com
📧 jscharfman@adelphi.edu
📱 516-233-7153 (call or text)
Even if you’re not in New York, you can still take part in what makes TomKings special. If Rex’s journey touched you and you’d love to read more heartwarming stories like his, we’d love to welcome you into our community.
Join the TomKings Frenchie Family Facebook group, where more than 10,000 members share everyday moments, big milestones, and the unique joy of life with a Frenchie.
