Families of the 150 people who were unaccounted for when a building in Miami collapsed received comfort from two therapy dogs. The pooches were brought in when Boricaus de Corazon, a disaster relief team, heard the news. They knew that the families were in for an agonizing wait, so they got Tal the Akbash and Molley the Walker Coonhound to help ease their worries.
Boricaus de Corazon is a non-profit organization that’s devoted to helping survivors of disaster. Their president, Linda Perez, knew that having the dogs around could help the families deal with their emotions while waiting for updates on their missing loved ones. People need someone to lean on during difficult times, and Tal and Molley could be that for them.
Going through the motions
The therapy dogs were quick to link up with some of the families who survived the incident. According to Perez, some of the family members were having anxiety problems or panic attacks. There were also those who were in shock and unable to process what happened.
Having been trained for situations like this, Tal and Molley knew what they were in for when they approached the families. They let them pat their heads, rub their bellies, and hug them. They knew that that simple gesture would allow the survivors to go process their emotions. It would also help them calm down during an anxiety problem or a panic attack.
Those who’ve received comfort from Tal and Molley shared that feeling the dogs’ warmth meant the world to them. Looking in the canines’ eyes made them feel that someone was there for them and that they didn’t have to go through everything alone. They felt relaxed after spending time with the therapy dogs.
Staying calm while waiting
Tal and Molley stayed by the survivors’ side for as long as they could. They made sure they were okay before proceeding to help other survivors that needed their comfort. You can watch Tal and Molley in action in the video below:
Credits to Reuters