Golden Retriever Therapy Dog Melts Into 'Fur Baby' Among NICU Staff

A beautiful Golden Retriever who works as a therapy dog melts into an adorable "fur baby" when he's around NICU staff.

On August 24, Macho the Magnificent (@macho_the_magnificent) shared a video of Macho doing some work at the NICU, and he's more than adorable. Take a look!

"Watch Macho's reaction to me asking if he wants to go see babies (in the hospital NICU)," the text on the video reads.

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Macho made it to the NICU with his parents holding a red lead attached to a red bandana, which signified Boomer as a therapy dog.

Boomer realizes where they are and who he gets to see, little babies in the NICU. "Immediately 2x the walking pace," the video reads.

He got excited when he realized that he was going to see babies. So excited that he started to run into the NICU.

The real cuteness happened when Macho melted into a "fur baby."

"Although to be fair, this is al he did once we got there," the video text read. And the adorable pup was sitting with the happiest relaxed look on his face while he was surrounded by people who gave him all the attention and lots of head scratches.

"Macho thinks NICU stands for nice intensive dog care unit," the video's caption read. And in the comments, people had a lot to say about Macho and how cute he is.

One wrote, "Ah Macho deserves all the hugs and scratches."

Another shared. "Apparently, he knows where he gets the best lovin’ from."

Someone else wrote, "Plot twist: he’s the baby."

One person explained, "It is the best day when Macho comes to visit! I just love him!"

Another joked, "Haha. Babies are hidden in the incubators; it's the nurses who want the therapy dog."

What Does a Therapy Dog Do in the Hospital?

According to the Alliance of Therapy Dogs , therapy dogs are becoming more popular in hospitals and other healthcare settings.

"They help provide companionship and comfort to hospital patients and staff," the experts explain.

"Certified therapy dogs are accompanied by their handlers at the hospital. Together, the therapy dog team visits hospital rooms and interacts with patients in a supportive and calming way."

In the hospital, they provide "an emotional connection" to help patients "cope with their current medical situation." They "can also offer physical comfort by allowing patients to pet them, which is known to reduce blood pressure and anxiety."

Dogs like Macho Therapy dogs in hospitals are also a help for the staff, too. "That’s why having therapy dogs in the hospital is a great way to boost their moods and support staff health," the Alliance of Therapy Dogs explains. "It gives them a chance to take a break and soak in the benefits of pet therapy."