The MedicalXpress report highlights heartwarming moments at Cincinnati Children's, where facility dogs like Hadley motivate movement and ease procedural stress. Yet it overlooks critical distinctions in evidence quality. The 2022 Rodriguez survey across 17 hospitals, cited as supportive, is purely observational with no control group, relying on staff self-reports rather than blinded measures; sample size limits generalizability and no conflicts were declared but funding sources remain unclear. Stronger data comes from a 2019 RCT in the Journal of Pediatric Psychology (n=72 children, randomized to dog vs. standard care) showing modest cortisol drops (15-20%) but short follow-up and exclusion of immunocompromised patients. A 2023 observational cohort at Norton Children's (n=145) linked dogs to reduced blood pressure yet noted selection bias toward less severe cases. Missed elements include long-term program sustainability—Canine Companions placement costs hospitals $5,000+ yearly in care—and risks like allergies or zoonotic concerns rarely quantified in pediatric settings. Patterns show expansion driven by emotional appeal rather than cost-effectiveness analyses, potentially widening access inequities between well-funded and rural facilities.