Shelter receives over 400 requests for puppy cuddle sessions

RICHMOND, Va. — A Richmond animal shelter has received more than 400 requests for cuddling sessions with seven Pyrenees puppies after offering people the chance to “forget the cares of the world.”

“After 2 years of Covid, social upheaval and now a war, we think we could all use a little time to cuddle a puppy,” said Christie Chipps-Peters, director of Richmond Animal Care and Control (RACC), on Facebook just before 6 a.m. Friday. “So that’s exactly what we’re offering! All day Sunday, you can sign up for 30 minutes in a room at the RACC to kiss those buckets of love until your heart and soul are happy.”

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Officials said the puppies, all of whom now have pending adoptions, have been “charged with a very special job” to “hugger you and make you happy”.

“These adorable Angel Cake puppies are magical, puffy and fluffy, stuffed with rainbows and sunshine,” reads Facebook. “If you hug them even for a few minutes, you will forget the cares of the world.”

Officials said priority was being given to first responders and medical professionals as well as “anyone who has recently lost a loved one/is suffering from a broken heart/depression/anxiety”.

Less than six hours after the position was launched, officials said they had received more than 400 applications.

In a Facebook Live video on Sunday morning, Peters said more than 50 “wonderful people in need who need their hearts healed” had been booked in for the private cuddling sessions.

However, officials have promised to do the same with other litters of puppies in the future.