'Truly magical': Stollery Children's Hospital hires Canada's first facility service dog

For Matthew Davis, Jake's dad, seeing the comfort that Pumbaa gives Jake is "truly magical."

As four-year-old Jake Davis lay in his ICU bed, still asleep from a partial liver transplant, Pumbaa the service dog was at his side to make sure Jake was safe.

When Jake had to have blood drawn or bandages changed, Pumbaa kept him distracted and comforted. And when Jake began walking again, he and Pumbaa would stroll together all around the ICU.

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At eight months old, Jake was diagnosed with ERCC1 deficiency, an extremely rare genetic disorder affecting only 11 people globally. The disease prevents his body from repairing its own DNA and makes him prone to conditions like liver and kidney failure, among other issues.

Pumbaa is a golden retriever who was p rofessionally train