If you’ve been feeling a little burnt out by the lack of human contact, then you’re not alone. Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, there have been many of us who have had to take our normal, everyday interactions to an entirely virtual space. And Zoom has been the leading video chat platform that has allowed us to stay connected while being apart.
But in order to combat that emptiness, the Richmond Animal Care and Control in Richmond, Virginia now has a tantalizing offer for the public. You can now choose to have their shelter dogs or cats join you on virtual meetings thanks to their RACC Chat program!
How wonderful is that?
As reported by The Dodo, anyone can get in contact with the shelter and request for either a dog or cat to join them on a video chat. The shelter is even willing to take requests in terms of what kind of animal or if you’re looking for a certain personality trait, like a relaxed older dog or a hyperactive puppy.
Plus, for their corporate calls, the shelter has created their own “office” backgrounds for the pets to set at. And we have to say, they are too cute.
Recently one of their shelter dogs, Buster, joined in on a RACC Chat for a student robotics team. They were quite impressed and had a wonderful time with their Buster joining their call. As they wrote on Facebook afterwards, “She’s beautiful and was very content the entire hour of our call!”
Christie Chipps Peters, the director of Richmond Animal Care and Control, mentioned, “We were just thinking of something we could do that would make people smile. We are surrounded by animals every day, and we really do understand the love and comfort that comes from them.”
The goal of the shelter is to eventually get enough people interested in adoption through participating in the RACC Chat program. Currently, the shelter’s Facebook is brimming with many adorable and adoptable pooches who are in search of their forever homes.
If having a precious shelter pup join you on your next video call sounds like something you definitely want, then please get in contact with the RACC by emailing katie.gantt@richmondgov.com.
