August is National Dog Month which gives us a great excuse to celebrate the furry friends that visit or live in our communities.
We know that pets are members of the family, which is why the Merrill Family of Senior Living Communities are pet friendly! And for animal lovers who don't have a pet of their own, many of our communities offer events involving pets.
These sweet puppies could not get enough cuddles with our residents at Arbour Square (PA)!
At Burien (WA), residents and their companions meet once a week to have a play date. Loads of treats and toys are provided and family and friends bring their pets as well.
At Eagleview (PA), residents and team members look forward to visits from Penny—a three-year-old therapy dog. Don't let her size intimidate you however, Penny is 165 pounds of pure love!
First Hill (WA) captured this awesome selfie with their therapy pup! According to the organization Paws for People, simply petting a therapy dog can lower blood pressure, decrease anxiety, and release endorphins.
At Port Charlotte (FL), the Alliance of Therapy Dogs brought sweet Maddie in to visit. With these adorable smiles we can't tell who is more excited!
Bradenton (FL) residents were treated to a show by Kristi, their nurse practitioner, who brought her three border collies to work for an agility performance! Kit, Denali, and Yosi did various obstacles to demonstrate their agility training and really impressed the crowd.
If you have a dog of your own we hope you can play a game of fetch, itch their favorite spot, take a long walk, or give them one (or two) extra treats to show your appreciation.