Maverick and Pastor Mike: A healing team

Maverick, a 100-pound English Labrador, is more than just a therapy dog — he’s a beacon of comfort at UCHealth Parkview Medical Center. Alongside his handler, Pastor Mike Marino, Maverick makes his rounds through the hospital each weekend, usually on Saturdays. Patients, families and staff eagerly await the duo’s visits, which provide emotional support and relief.

Maverick began his journey at Parkview Medical Center nearly three years ago. To date, he has accumulated more than 500 volunteer hours and touched the lives of nearly 4,800 people.

“He’ll go to the hospital every weekend with me, and as soon as they see him, people light up — big smiles, and you can see the staff instantly relax,” Marino said. “His ability to instinctively know when someone needs comfort is remarkable.”

“Recently, I was leaving the ER after a long day, and Maverick heard a little girl crying. He stopped in front of her room, poked his head in and went right to her bed. She was crying and having difficulty breathing, her parents were upset, but Maverick calmed her down in seconds. The respiratory therapist even said she didn’t need her treatment at that time because she was so calm.”

The story of how Maverick came into Marino’s life is remarkable.

“I never thought I would have a therapy dog,” Marino explained. “I had a dream one night where I was walking through the hospital and someone asked me what my dog’s name was. I looked down and there was a black lab next to me. That’s when I decided to get a dog.”

Marino’s search for the perfect therapy dog was a lengthy process. After months of research, he went looking for an English lab.

“When I went to see the puppies, I fell in love with a little female I wanted to name Millie. But the owner told me, ‘That’s not your dog.’ She pointed to a little black puppy across the room — Maverick. I hesitated at first, but she was right. Maverick was meant for me.”

After months of training, Maverick was ready for his therapy dog vest, and he now sports his own UCHealth badge.

“He knows what elevators to use, which hallways to turn down, and, of course, exactly which drawer at the second-floor nurses’ station hides his favorite biscuits.

“But we had to cut back on the treats — he was getting a little chunky,” Marino added with a laugh.

Maverick and Marino’s companionship goes beyond patient and staff visits. Marino, also a certified grief counselor, continues his work through Darkness to Daylight Ministries, offering comfort and care to those in need outside of the hospital, with Maverick faithfully by his side.

“He’s not just my co-worker, we’re best buddies. He knows when I’m having a hard day. I’ll come home emotionally drained, and there he is, waiting for me at the door. I just hug him, and everything melts away.”

Together, they provide a unique kind of care at the hospital. Maverick’s instinct and heart make him an indispensable part of Parkview Medical Center’s healing environment.

“When I get his vest and he hears me grab my keys, he knows — it’s time to go to work,” Marino said.