VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — A Virginia Beach EMS therapy dog program is working to provide more support for first responders and healthcare workers.
Taylor Jones, a paramedic with the City of Virginia Beach, started the program in February 2023 and has grown the program from three dogs to 13 therapy dogs, according to a news release from the city.
The program's goal is to help first responders and healthcare workers with their mental health after a traumatic event.
"The program is special because we provide a variety of dogs from big to small, fluffy to hairless, to hopefully find a friend for everyone," the release stated.
Each month, the therapy dog program makes scheduled visits and also provides immediate on-call support.
"Typically, we gather everyone involved in the call for a debrief and discuss the call, offer assistance, and just come together to share our thoughts," the release stated.
The program offers crews a chance to break away from their daily routines and visit with a furry friend.
Check out some of the heartwarming photos in the social media post below:
To learn more about the therapy dog program, click here.