A sweet dog by the name of Wynn has been helping medical staff working on the frontlines of the coronavirus pandemic ease their worries with mental health breaks filled with lots of licks and cuddles.
Wynn is a one-year-old yellow Labrador who spends most of her days at Rose Medical Center in Denver, Colorado. Her trainer, Susan Ryan is also an emergency physician at the hospital, according to Canine Companions for Independence (CCI), where Wynn is training as a therapy dog.
The pup often waits patiently in a hospital employee office to welcome any returning staffers in need of a break from their work.
“Seeing stuff and hearing stuff that you can’t unsee has an impact on you,” Ryan told CNN in an interview. “That’s where the dogs come in. When you are in the presence of the dog and petting them you are taking a moment to ground yourself at the present time.”
Ryan said she started training Wynn at eight weeks old and frequently brings her to the hospital to visit patients. Now, Wynn is training to become an assistance dog with CCI, a non-profit that that provides animals free of charge to those in need.
Although the Centers for Disease Control, World Health Organization, and American Veterinary Medical Association have stated that pets are not at risk of spreading coronavirus, hospital workers were urged to thoroughly wash their hands first before playing with Wynn to ensure all their safety.
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