Brighten Your Day

Holly The Dog Celebrates Her Final Day As 'Cuddle Manager' At Children’s Hospital

April 29, 2025

After eight incredible years of service, Holly the Labrador Retriever has officially retired from her role as the “Cuddle Manager” at Alder Hey Children’s Hospital in Liverpool.

Holly / @AlderHey on X

Holly has been a familiar, comforting presence at the hospital, making a remarkable 500 visits to provide emotional support to tens of thousands of patients, families, and staff. On Monday, April 15, the team at Alder Hey honored her final shift with a heartfelt retirement celebration.

Holly’s journey as a therapy dog began when her owner, Barry, recognized her naturally gentle and calming nature. The two registered with the national charity Pets as Therapy, and soon Holly became a cherished part of the Alder Hey family.

"It's a sad day in many ways, but this is our 500th visit, eight years in now, and I think the time has come for her to put her paws up and smell the biscuits!" Barry said of her final day.

It's #InternationalDogDay 🐶 We love Holly, our gorgeous pet therapy dog and official Cuddle Manager here at Alder Hey. She helps reduce stress and anxiety and does a brilliant job of cheering up our patients ❤️ pic.twitter.com/sCBa1NRuat

— 🏥 Alder Hey 💙 (@AlderHey) August 26, 2024

Nathan Askew, Chief Nursing Officer at Alder Hey, expressed just how much Holly has meant to everyone at the hospital.

"Holly makes a massive difference to the lives of the children and their families, but also the staff here at Alder Hey,” he said. “She’s always out and about, you see her in the atrium and everybody stops and says hello, I think she’s probably the most famous person here!"

He added that her presence helped children feel more at ease during treatments, bringing a sense of normalcy and calm to what can often be stressful days.

While Holly may be hanging up her vest, the love and comfort she brought to Alder Hey will be remembered for years to come.