Many countries are in lockdown in order to stop COVID-19 from spreading. Lots of people are in self-isolation, which means they have more free time now than ever, including Ken Berger and his bulldog Victoria from Toronto, Canada.
They are part of the St. John Ambulance Therapy Dog Program, which allows dogs and their owners to visit senior citizens who are sick, lonely or just in need of a friendly visit. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, the duo often volunteered to visit seniors in long term care homes.
Berger said they often spend at least two hours with the residents. The seniors even came up to pet the dog.
Unfortunately, Berger and Victoria are now forced to stay at home like most people. It’s a loss for them and for the seniors who enjoy the visits.
It’s recommended to practice social distancing as one of the measures to stop the coronavirus from spreading. But, St. John Ambulance came up with a plan to create a “digital library” of dog videos.
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Heather Leong, who works at the St. John Ambulance, said that they set up a YouTube channel that already has more than 100 videos so the residents in long term care homes can enjoy them. However, others can watch the videos as well.
The videos range from funny to comforting to funny. Leong says there are videos of dogs playing in their backyards. One video even features a cute dog doing a fashion show.
Seniors really appreciated the videos. Instead of a face-to-face visit, now they can get a therapy dog online. Leong said that since the response has been enormous, she will continue posting videos.
Berger recorded video of his bulldog, while she was playing with her favorite ball. The duo really enjoyed making the video for a virtual visit. Although it’s not the same as an in-person visit, he hopes the videos will provide comfort to the residents.
