When Marsha Rabell and her therapy dog Gabby walk into a patient's room, the reaction is usually the same.

"The first reaction is a smile," said Rabell.

Rabell has been volunteering in the pet therapy program at AHN Saint Vincent for 7 years.

"Its rewarding for me and Gabby," said Rabell. "She gets lots of treats, but the reward is just indescribable - what it does for people and for us."

As a part of National Volunteers Week, the hospital is celebrating volunteers like Marsha and Gabby who are easily identified with their red coats.

"My goal is to always have a sea of red in all areas of the hospital," said Jodie Andres, director of volunteer services at AHN Saint Vincent. "They're in hospitality, in patient ambassadors, emergency room rounders, and as you'll see today, a growing pet therapy team."

Andres said the volunteers not only brighten a patient's day but also bring relief to the staff.

"During the COVID pandemic, we weren't going into the patient rooms," said Andres. "They've really been a huge intervention - therapeutic intervention for the staff - bringing smiles, love."

For Rabell, it's stories like this that make it all worth it.

"Gabby had gone up to the patient, made the rounds but kept going back to this man," said Rabell. "Finally, he started talking to her, that he used to have a dog, and I didn't think anything of it. When I went to leave, the nurse said I almost cried. He had been here two days and hadn't spoken a word until he opened up to Gabby."