Asteroid serves as the Foundation’s Employee Paw-lanthropy Officer, providing opportunities for hospital employees to engage in the therapeutic time with her to promote well-being and decreased feelings of stress.

Asteroid was born at Canines Assistants, a service dog institution just north of Atlanta, in 2017. She was trained from puppyhood along with her 10 litter mates, all bearing space names, for service dog work.

Through the course of her training, the staff realized she had the personality, skills and desire to work in a public setting as a facility dog rather than as a service dog for an individual. In June of 2019 she was matched with Stefani and Huntsville Hospital for Women & Children. She spent a week training with Stefani and then made Rocket City home — becoming the first hospital-based facility dog in Alabama.

In her time at Huntsville Hospital, she has provided patient care on more than a dozen units and has given support to thousands of healthcare workers, patients and families. In her time away from the hospital, Asteroid enjoys hiking, playing in water, hogging the bed and sharing snacks with her human brother.