Reported by Heather Pick

There's a new member of the team at Columbus Children's Hospital who's turning heads. He works often with brain injury patients and has a way of commanding their attention.

Meet Ainsley, MD. This canine doesn't need a stethoscope or a reflex hammer to work with patients, and he's used to someone barking commands at him.
 
The newest member of the Children's Rehabilitation Unit, Ansley speaks little and his sometimes reserved patrons open up.

Patients like Hank Stonerock, who's trying to remember commands to exercise his mind. The Westfall football player had brain bleeding and broken bones after a traffic crash in October.
 
It's not pet therapy in the sense that you pet the therapist, although a pat is encouraged now and then. Ainsley is part of "animal assisted therapy." They actually take part in the therapy to help the patient get better.

Dr. Ellen Kaitz says, "I think it's less threatening to have a dog around than to have a bunch of physicians and practitioners."

Ainsley is the only Pediatric Rehab Therapy canine known in Ohio and one of only a few in the country. The lab-retriever mix started his career just a few weeks ago and he touches those who touch him.

Like Hank, his mom Tracie says his agitated attitude changed dramatically.
 
"That day after seeing the dog, he ate, drank a whole milkshake he just completely different child. Everyone was just amazed," she says.

The "MD" by Ainsley's name means Medical Dog. He's not a doctor, but his affect on patients' healing is no doubt powerful.

The dog costs over $10,000 to train, but Children's Hospital didn't have to pay a dime. It was all covered by the volunteer organization Canine Companions for Independence.