“Animals sense when something is wrong, and their sole purpose is just to give you love,” said Jessica Garringer, marketing and development manager at the Humane Society.
The invitation to the community came after Garringer and Lauren Boone, the event and development associate, took a puppy and kitten to the Oregon District Monday afternoon and set up a sign that read “Come Get Some Love from a Furry Friend.”
Garringer estimates close to 200 people stopped by to cuddle “Happy,” a Weimaraner hound mix puppy and “Jenny,” a grey and white kitten.
“It was touching,” Garringer said. “We had several people who just held the puppy and sobbed. She was literally wrapping her arms around people and hugging people. It’s that unconditional love in times like this that people need.”
The community can visit the shelter Tuesday – Friday from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday from noon to 4 p.m.
Visitors can pick out the animal they would like to spend time with at the shelter, Garringer said. “We have bonding rooms we can put people in with an animal and they can love on them and get away from it all.”
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