The Best Kind of Therapy: Dogs

After the tragedies of the Boston Marathon, Village Critter Outfitter would like to send our condolences to all of those who were lost, injured and affected by this horrific event. While it seems that every media outlet is bombarding the public with negativity of the incident, I am sure we can all agree that if one thing has made us smile while watching the news it would be the therapy dogs that have been brought in to aid the victims in their recovery.

Five adorable golden retrievers have been brought into Boston by the Lutheran Church Charities to provide the victims a sense of comfort. Not only is this group of canines undeniably sweet, but they are also able to take the victims out of reality for a second, to focus on the here and now, as opposed to what happened and what will happen. The happy-go-lucky nature and the tenderness that these golden retrievers embody help bring back those smiles that were sadly lost on Monday, April 15th.

While it is a treat to see these dogs work, they have been busy lately responding to far too many unfortunate events. The Lutheran K-9 Program came to be after a shooting incident at Northern Illinois University about five years ago. Since then, these furry friends have also visited the victims of the Sandy Hook tragedy quite close by to us in Newtown, CT. While these events are unbearable, these animals are trained solely to provide love and comfort to those who were gravely impacted. Click here to learn more about this incredibly reputable organization.

Now the real question is: Can these animals really be a driving force in the healing process? We think so. These golden retrievers provide unconditional love to those who need it most during their fragile state and give these victims a few moments of happiness in their newly shattered world, providing hope for a positive future. If you haven’t seen this touching interaction yet, here is a heartwarming video. We cannot be more thankful for such an organization, and especially, for these compassionate critters.

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