Spreading the love: Columbia senior living residents get a surprise visit from...PUPPIES!
COLUMBIA — The sun was beaming on Wednesday morning, likewise were the smiles of the elderly residents at Columbia Post Acute.
During these unprecedented times, the residents haven't been able to visit with loved ones, but they were in for quite a surprise.
Melody Whitworth arrived at the senior living facility in her van. In the back you could find a kennel, she then got straight to work, unloading the what was inside: Five, six-week-old puppies! Whitworth is the founder and director of 'Unchained Melodies Dog Rescue' in Columbia.
This week Whitworth, volunteers and the puppies are on tour, well kind of!
"We decided to bring a little sunshine to a dark situation," Whitworth said. "We realize all the people in the senior living facilities are quarantined without visitors or family can't come and visit."
So, the non-profit organization has been visiting senior living facilities across Columbia all week to brighten the days of the residents.
"We came up with the idea of just walking around the outside to their windows so they can kind of see and ooh and ahh and just give them a little break in the action," she said.
Although the residents had to admire the cuteness from a distance (social distancing!), they were thrilled to have the pups in their presence.
"It's pretty heart moving, it's really moving, they smile," Whitworth said. "One lady said, oh I laughed out loud and they desperately want to pet them, but they can't so they kind of pet them through the glass. It's sad and happy all at the same time. Unfortunately, those are the times we're in right now."
However, even in these times, we can ALL find something to smile about!
Along with visiting Columbia Post Acute on Wednesday, the puppies have visited residence at Lenoir Woods and the Bluffs. The puppies have a visit scheduled at Tiger Place on Thursday.
Unchained Melodies Dog Rescue is able to carry out this act of kindness with approval from the Columbia/Boone County Health and Human Services and the help of the staff of these facilities to ensure social distancing,
