I still get nervous every time I visit the dentist's office.
Even if I'm there just for a simple checkup or a routine cleaning, I can't shake the feeling that something bad is going to happen.
For many people, this feeling of anxiety and nerves never really goes away. Kids, however, can find the whole experience to be especially daunting.
And that's where JoJo the dog comes in. JoJo is a beautiful golden retriever, and happens to be the fluffy canine resident at the Pediatric Dentistry of Northbrook in Illinois.
She was trained as a comfort dog, and has a very special way with all the young patients that she meets.
Many of them are terrified of the dentist's chair, and need her there for support and encouragement.
Let's give a round of applause to all the therapy and comfort dogs out there, whether they help us through our anxiety or grief. We'd be helpless without them!
Scroll further to read more about JoJo the comfort dog, and let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
Meet JoJo. She’s the canine “assistant” with the staff at the Pediatric Dentistry of Northbrook, in Illinois.
According to her bio description on the dentistry’s website, JoJo was trained to be a comfort dog, to “bring a calming influence and help ease anxiety” to those around her.
She has become very popular with the kids who visit the clinic, and is famous for helping the young patients let go of their anxiety.
“A lot of the time, those patients would need nitrous oxide or other sedatives to help them relax,” clinic staffer Veronica Renteria told the Dodo. “But when JoJo comes in with them and sits in the chair, they’re comforted.”
Some kids are more anxious than others, and some have special needs.
JoJo works her magic on every single kid, and, as it turns out, her presence always does the trick, and puts them at incredible ease.
“[The kids] can just sit and pet her as they’re getting their teeth cleaned,” Renteria continued. “She does a great job with them.”
But JoJo’s presence also helps out the dentists.
Renteria explains that when the young patients are nervous and frightened, they always constantly move around.
JoJo helps calm the kids, helping the whole process go smoother than it would have otherwise been.
Most parents are usually pretty extra concerned about bringing their kids in for a dental visit.
But JoJo puts even the adults at ease. The moment they step inside the clinic, she is there, waiting for them to pet her.
“She loves coming in,” Renteria said of JoJo. “She’s very well-trained and knows what she’s doing. We all benefit from her so much.”
We’re happy that JoJo manages to brighten up everyone’s day. Let’s give it up for all the helpful therapy animals out there!
Please SHARE if you think service animals like JoJo deserve our love and respect!
