When Habersham County Animal Care and Control (HCACC) Director Madi Nix learned that many area nursing home and assisted living residents were struggling with loneliness, she and her team got to work to give them a little “puppy love” this Valentine’s day.
Nix’s mother works at Gateway Health in Cleveland, a nursing facility, and she told Nix that many of her residents are experiencing loneliness during a time when they’re usually showing their love for their family members.
“My mom has been telling me about how so many of the residents were having a hard time because of the lockdowns and not getting to see family, and the restrictions placed on the assisted living facilities,” Nix said. “We wanted to find a way to bring smiles to their hearts.”
The shelter staff and shelter dogs got together to make something special for their community: valentines. HCACC’s Olivia Whitfield set the dogs up with paint, peanut butter and pawprints to paint their own masterpieces to share with the community.
@shaneoliviawhitfi70Shelter babies making Valentine’s Day cards..♬ Happy Valentine’s Day – Outkast
“We wanted to do a little more one-on-one with the dogs, have a little more interaction with them,” Whitfield said. “And it was a fun activity where they could get some treats and make some beautiful artwork in the same process.”
The dogs had plenty of one-on-one time with Whitfield as they made art and worked on their people skills, getting ready for the day where they can make crafts at a home of their own. But today, they’re just excited to give a little love back to their community.
