In Overland Park, Kansas, a gentle, curly-haired poodle named Ivy has been at the heart of a story that’s stirring emotions and raising questions. Ivy isn’t just any dog—she’s a trained therapy dog who has comforted anxious patients and brightened a dental office with her presence. But now, her future in that setting is uncertain, due to a recent decision by the Kansas Dental Board. Dr. Kory Kirkegaard, Ivy’s devoted owner, is determined to change that.
Ivy’s Comforting Role in the Office
Dr. Kirkegaard’s connection to Ivy runs deep. As she walks around his feet, enjoying every bit of affection, he gently strokes her and reflects on how much she is missed.
“We miss her,” he says, beginning to tear up. “Wow. I am just emotionally maxed out, I think.”
For more than a year, Ivy was allowed to be in the dental office after hours, though not while patients were there. That changed when the Kansas Dental Board (KDB) stepped in, barring Ivy from being in the office during regular business hours. The board cited general sanitary concerns but didn’t provide specific details.
“She is bathed one to two times a week … she’s hypoallergenic … she just finds her way into a moment where it makes sense for her to be there, where a patient is maybe a little bit nervous or worked up,” Kirkegaard explains. “She has been doing this here for over two years.”
Conflict with State Guidelines
Things started to shift in April 2024 when the dental board responded to an unrelated issue by sending a letter that said:
“Please be aware your dog or any other pets are not allowed in the dental office.”
Despite that message, Ivy is a certified therapy dog, and all her credentials—including her handler being Dr. Kirkegaard’s wife—are clearly displayed in the office. According to Kansas law, a “professional therapy dog” is one that’s specifically chosen, trained, and tested to help people in structured environments. Ivy fits that definition and even passed the state’s inspection during a visit by the dental board in June 2024.
The inspection report showed that the office was following the rules about patient safety and cleanliness. But then, in August 2024, another letter came in from the board, this time claiming the office wasn’t meeting proper standards under different state rules. That left Dr. Kirkegaard confused.
He asked to meet with the board to clear things up. That meeting happened on April 11, 2025.
Even after showing “mountains of scientific evidence” supporting therapy animals in medical settings and sharing heartfelt letters from patients who loved Ivy, the board stood by its decision and voted to keep the ban in place.
“It’s a very common thing throughout the country for dogs to be in a dental therapy setting,” he said. “The close-minded viewpoints and very opinion-based discussion that we had in our meeting on Friday was very frustrating and a little discouraging to hear from a board of peers.”
Patients and Supporters Speak Out
Dr. Kirkegaard made it clear that no patient is ever forced to interact with Ivy.
“We always ask every patient if they’re comfortable with Ivy, and if they’re not, then she stays up front with the team.”
He also believes the dental board’s decision is unfair and not in line with how other clinics operate. He mentioned that at least 20 other dental offices in Kansas allow therapy dogs like Ivy, and he questions why his practice is being treated differently.
“To set a precedent like this that affects hundreds of thousands of people in the state of Kansas, I think by no means can it be established as precedent without an appropriate amount of insight and information before a decision is rendered,” he said.
Now, Kirkegaard has hired a lawyer and is actively working to reverse the decision so Ivy can return to doing what she does best—comforting patients who need a little extra support.
KMBC reached out to the Kansas Dental Board for a statement but did not receive a response.
Toledo, United States.