INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) – September is Therapy Dog Awareness Month and Central Indiana’s Ronald McDonald Housea sweet dog works overtime to comfort families in difficult times.
maca 6-year-old Australian Labradoodle, greets families as soon as they walk through the doors.
“We’ve given him the title ‘Chief of Encouragement,'” said Julia Elliott, manager of guest services at Ronald McDonald House.
At least 51 families with children who receive care at Riley Hospital for Children are served at Ronald McDonald House. This means Mac is eager to get to work and can tell when someone really needs their attention.
“I would say a lot of times Mac is most needed in scenarios where obviously our families are going through tough times. Their child is receiving treatment at Riley,” Elliott said. “We actually had a family yesterday who came to see Mac after he was in the hospital. He needed that time with Mac. He got on the floor with Mac and cuddled up to him and hung out playing with him. You could tell afterward that he seemed a little more relaxed. It seemed like he really needed that time.
Mac was donated to the Ronald McDonald House in central Indiana as a puppy to serve as an on-site therapy dog.