VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY) — The job for Virginia Beach paramedics is not an easy one, but a growing therapy dog program is helping to brighten their moods on each shift.
On a day-to-day basis, paramedics are tasked with seeing and dealing with situations that can greatly affect their mental health.
But Taylor Jones, a paramedic with Virginia Beach told 10 On Your Side that if she or any of her coworkers happen to see any dogs during their shifts, their day makes a complete 180.
“So, I thought, like if one dog in a person’s house can make the whole group of people happy, then what could a therapy dog coming to the station or coming to the hospital to see you do,” Jones said.
So, in February 2023, the therapy dog program was formed — starting at just three dogs and expanding to 13 in a little over a year.
The eyes of another paramedic, Natalie Darais, lit up when she saw Primrose while on her break from her shift.
“It’s almost life changing to have something that can come in and change our lives,” Darais said. “And we’re there for people on their worse days. And so to be able to respond and help people, but then we carry that burden with us to have an animal come in and help relieve us of our stress, give us something positive to look forward to and to kind of decompress with is awesome.”
Primrose’s owner, Nanci Mayo, said she sees her dog make huge impacts in people’s lives ever day.
“One of the nurses ran out to kind of say hello to Primrose in the bay,” she said. “And she’s like, I only have 14 seconds, and I have to get back in there. But I’ve had a really bad day. And at the end of those 14 seconds her whole demeanor had changed. She’s here to make other people happy, but yeah, I think it’s really rewarding to her as well.”
Jones told 10 On Your Side she hopes to expand the program even more in the future.
