Tonka is a Great Dane, and while he is an impressive guy, he’s actually quite sweet and gentle, which is why he’s been certified as a therapy dog with The Dog Alliance in Cedar Park, Texas.
As KXAN reports, amid the coronavirus outbreak, this big boy has been working very hard to bring some joy to the senior centers throughout the Cedar Park area. However, since many senior centers have become very strict on visitors in an effort to protect their residents from becoming infected with COVID-19, Tonka and his handler have had to come up with innovative ways around these rules in order to continue to cheer up the senior citizens.
For the most part, Tonka and his owner, who is also his handler, Courtney Leigh, have taken to being outside on the curb of the Cedar Pointe Health and Wellness Suites. From afar, usually from the other side of the glass of the senior center windows, Tonka has been greeting the seniors. And they love it.
As Leigh explained to KXAN, “We learned that with the recent events all therapy visits will be discontinued for safety purposes, of course, and containment. We really missed our visits, and I thought, what can I do personally, on my own, to try and continue some of the feelgood that this wonderful dog gives to everyone? So they were kind enough to go with the idea I had.”
As she further explained, these interactions through the window are as crucial to her and Tonka, as they are to the senior citizens that they help.
She said, “We’re so excited to be able to just make them smile today.”
Keep up the good work, Tonka!
Watch the video below:
