Dr. Kory Kirkegaard, a dentist in Overland Park, Kansas, is fighting to keep his certified therapy dog, Ivy, in his office during business hours to comfort anxious patients.

Ivy, a hypoallergenic standard poodle, had been quietly providing support for over two years, but in 2024, the Kansas Dental Board (KDB) banned her from being present during appointments, citing vague sanitary concerns. This came despite Ivy passing a compliance inspection and meeting state standards for therapy animals.

Kirkegaard, supported by patients and scientific evidence on the benefits of therapy dogs, presented his case to the KDB in April 2025, but the board upheld the ban. Frustrated by what he described as a biased and inconsistent process, Kirkegaard believes he is being unfairly targeted, especially since other Kansas dental offices use therapy dogs. He has now hired a lawyer to appeal the decision and continue advocating for Ivy’s return.

kmbc.com