Therapy dogs sighted on Capitol Hill amid stress of first public impeachment hearing

The registered therapy dogs were on the Hill from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m.

ByOlivia Eubanks and Ryan Shepard
November 13, 2019, 3:54 PM

As tensions ran high in the nation's capital amid the first round of public impeachment hearings on Wednesday, a non-profit wanted to ease the stress level of staffers and others on the Hill, one dog at a time.

Pet Partners, a pet therapy organization, teamed up with the Pet Industry Joint Advisory Council (PIJAC) to provide therapy dogs to the U.S. Capitol.

PHOTO: A goldendoodle therapy dog named Blue greets Congressional staff during a "Meet the Pets: Destress with Post-Election Therapy Dogs" event on Nov. 13, 2019, in Washington.
A goldendoodle therapy dog named Blue greets Congressional staff during a "Meet the Pets: Destress with Post-Election Therapy Dogs" event on Nov. 13, 2019, in Washington.
Mark Makela/Getty Images

As members of the House Intelligence Committee questioned Ambassador William Taylor and Deputy Assistant Secretary of State George Kent, the squad of pups provided those on the Hill a little "pet therapy."

PHOTO: A reporter interacts with two therapy dogs visiting Capitol Hill for an event run by a therapy animal organization, and the Pet Industry Joint Advisory Council to help provide staffers stress relief on Nov. 13, 2019.
A reporter interacts with two therapy dogs visiting Capitol Hill for an event run by a therapy animal organization, and the Pet Industry Joint Advisory Council to help provide staffers stress relief on Nov. 13, 2019.
Caroline Brehman/CQ-Roll Call via Getty Images

The dogs seemed to be a big hit, as PIJAC tweeted, "Great to have so many staffers stop by our #pettherapy on the Hill event today!"

PHOTO: Swiss Shepherd therapy dog, Sampson, greets Congressional staff during a "Meet the Pets: Destress with Post-Election Therapy Dogs" event on Nov. 13, 2019, in Washington.
Swiss Shepherd therapy dog, Sampson, greets Congressional staff during a "Meet the Pets: Destress with Post-Election Therapy Dogs" event on Nov. 13, 2019, in Washington.
Mark Makela/Getty Images

The registered therapy dogs were on the Hill from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m. in the Hart and Rayburn buildings.

It was unclear if the dogs would return for any of the other public hearings, which resume on Friday and continue next week.

Related Topics