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EDINBURG — Music blared and barbecue pit smoke permeated the air in the parking lot of DHR Health Women’s Hospital on Friday as staff carried out festivities in observation of National Hospital Week.
Hospital workers who patiently waited in line for a plate of barbecue, were greeted by a friendly, four-legged police dog, Ammo.
As the still-in-training therapy dog made his way through the crowd of hospital workers with his handler, Officer Fred Ortiz, hands reached out and affectionately petted his furry head.
“They asked us to come out here to DHR Health and to bring Ammo to help relieve some stress for the staff and to help bring some smiles to their faces — which is what his purpose is,” Ortiz said. “They invited us out here to help lift up the staff.”
Ammo is in the process of completing a seven-month training program that will reacclimate him from his former role as a working dog to that of a therapy dog. While he continues his training, he has been attending numerous events with the Pharr Police Department Community Engagement Unit, and his presence is already making a positive impact throughout the community.
“We’ve taken him to our Special Olympics run. We actually ran with the torch with one of the athletes,” Ortiz said. “We’ve done HUB Phest, we’ve done Easter egg hunts, pretty much every event we’ve had in Pharr, he’s been out there.”
With temperatures soaring Friday afternoon, Ortiz and Ammo stood in the shade at the end of the barbecue line. Hospital workers greeted the 2-year-old German Shepherd and Belgian Malinois mix with hugs and photos.
Ortiz was asked by a pair of hospital workers if they could pet Ammo, to which he obliged and informed them that Ammo was there to help them with stress.
“Well, we certainly have a lot of that,” the woman responded.
“I think he secretly loves (the attention),” Ortiz said with a laugh. “Even though he can’t smile, he loves it. He brings out the best in people. They’re smiling every time they see him. You can see it from a distance. They’re just anxious to pet him.”
As more hospital workers petted Ammo and posed for photos with him, the dog remained calm and relaxed.
“I think it helps us, a lot of the nurses, as far as stress, to have an animal here and petting him,” Kristen Blevins, a registered nurse, said. “We love dogs and animals, so of course it means a lot.”
