April 13th, 2017
Yesterday, we celebrated National Pet Day by reflecting on our furry friends and their wonderful handlers who bring joy to the House during our Pet Therapy program. When families come to stay at the Ronald McDonald House, they miss the comforts and familiarity of their own homes, including the pets they often have to leave behind. We are able to ease their sadness and provide a unique therapy experience through our Dog and Bunny Therapy programs.
A team of dedicated handlers bring the therapy-certified dogs to the House as often as possible to visit with families. Spending time with our furry, four-legged friends bring smiles to the faces of our guests. Hugging and playing with them reminds our families of their own pets at home and helps them relax. In addition to the different therapy dogs that frequent RMHC, the House has McNugget. McNugget and his mom, Beth Hurrle, visit the House multiple times each week to play with his friends, and they have a standing date as the special guest at Family Movie Night once a month.
In addition to our canine friends, RMHC offers Bunny Therapy. These certified therapy bunnies provide one-of-a-kind social and emotional support to our guest families. In fact, the House has two of just a few Pet Partners therapy rabbits in Wisconsin and there are fewer than 100 nation-wide!
Our Pet Therapy program helps us keep families close and comfortable during their time of need. RMHC is so thankful for our dedicated handlers and their furry friends who support our families when they need it most. Happy National Pet Day!
