I just wanted to put it out there how incredible it has been to have Duke around the office. Earlier this year one of the kids on my caseload ended up in the hospital and I was absolutely devastated. I did not think that I would be able to finish the workday because I was so upset. I sat down with Duke for about 20 minutes and I was able to gather myself enough to make it through the day. It was so clear that he sensed how upset that I was. He put his head on my lap and was super engaged with me. Since that incident it has been so helpful when I’m feeling stressed or if I just need a breather to walk over and interact with Duke. Regardless of any of his actions, sometimes there is nothing more healing than petting an animal when you are feeling the heat of secondary trauma.

 

I also had the privilege of watching him interact with a young kiddo today. The little boy was a bit nervous because Duke is big and he was no older than two, but Duke was very calm and was wonderful at making the little one feel comfortable. In the end the kiddo was so excited to get a Duke sticker and it was really sweet. I know that if we can get to a place where Duke could regularly be “deployed” to work with our kids and families that it would be so fantastic for them. To turn a place like a DHS office that is, unfortunately, naturally a bit scary and traumatizing into a place where they can have a therapeutic experience and walk away with some comfort, would be so incredible.

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Kayla