The unsung heroes of the coronavirus era are our pets. Taking center stage in efforts aimed to alleviate the heartache and lift the spirits of people all over the country, animals are jumping in on Zoom meetings, leading therapy sessions and running free in aquariums to the delight of just about anyone with a pulse.
And now, our furry friends are being asked to help us humans again, this time focusing on those at a higher risk of contracting the virus. Pets Together is a new program launched by New York-based non-profit Animal Farm Foundation that seeks to bring comfort to folks in nursing homes and long-care facilities in addition to healthcare workers fighting off the pandemic from the front lines.
"One of the many effects of the COVID-19 pandemic is social isolation and loneliness, which were already highly prevalent before the crisis," says Stacey Coleman, executive director the foundation, in an official press release. "We designed Pets Together to adapt to these unprecedented circumstances by tapping into the power of pets to spread joy and bring people together."
Through the program, those who sign up for virtual visits will get to spend some time with their pets of choice, including Smudge the cat, cows Muffin and Baby, dog siblings Annie and Tommy and—believe it or not—"super friends" Groot and Happy... a dog and a cat.
You can book a virtual visit directly from the site, where you can also browse through the adorable roster of compassionate pets.
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