May was Mental Health Awareness Month, and what better way to celebrate than to cuddle rescue puppies? On May 23rd, I joined Rescue Ranch volunteers Mary Luton, Maureen Horne and Merri Carol Martens at Fairchild Medical Center for a special afternoon of rescue puppy therapy. There were lots of smiles, hugs, wagging tails, and an adoption to boot. Now that’s a boost of good mental health!
A puppy day for hospital staff
When Fairchild Medical Center reached out to Rescue Ranch to organize a special mental health event for their staff, we jumped at the opportunity. We all know that pets have a profoundly positive effect on wellbeing. Of course we were glad to help Fairchild give their hard-working staff a dose of pure puppy joy!
We couldn’t have asked for a more perfect setting. It was a brilliant spring day: blue sky, warm sun, green grass, and plenty of shade for the pups. Almost before we finished unloading our therapy pups, hospital staff were making a beeline for the puppy pen.
It’s always hard to choose our doggy ambassadors with so many wonderful pups hoping to shine. This time, we brought three adults, two older pups, and three adorable youngsters. Genial Bronco (already a pet therapy star for seniors), charming Berry, and sweet little Lassi reveled in all the attention. Adolescents Alfonzo and Barrister stole hearts with their dapper good looks and friendly manners.
And the 10-week-old babies–Heidi, Holly and Harley–spent most of the event being passed from one pair of loving arms to another. They were a bit overwhelmed but it was perfect socialization.
Happily ever after? Now that’s good for mental health!
I thoroughly enjoyed my job: roaming around taking photos of rescue dogs and humans communing together. The dogs were natural therapy stars–they seemed to understand their role was to spread joy.
I was touched by the compassion expressed by the Fairchild workers for all the dogs. Some staff members even apologized for being unable to adopt or already having pets at home. Everyone was eager to help our dogs find families.
And that’s exactly what happened for one lucky pup! One Fairchild worker, a previous Rescue Ranch adopter, brought her kids to visit the pups. Barrister’s affection bowled them over (literally!) and within minutes, they were begging to add him to their pack. After a family consultation and some promises on the part of the kids to help with his training, it was settled that Barrister would go home later that afternoon. Sure enough, he got adopted shortly after we returned to the Ranch!
Barrister’s adoption was the cherry on top of a beautiful day of celebrating mental health awareness. Sharing love with a four-footed friend is the best possible tonic, and we all felt uplifted. The Rescue Ranch dogs certainly enjoyed the attention and proved once again there isn’t anything a rescue dog can’t do. The event was a huge success!
