Pet aspiring service dogs during free public event

In need of some furry, tail-wagging therapy to de-stress during the hustle and bustle of the holidays?

Hawaii Fi-Do Service Dogs is setting up a “doggy therapy” station from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. today at Tamarind Park in downtown Honolulu to do just that.

“In our routine training, all of our dogs have opportunities to meet and greet the public as they’re learning different skills,” said Hawaii Fi-Do Executive Director Jim Kennedy. “One of our volunteers said, ‘You know, this is the perfect time to do something special.’”

Studies have shown that interacting with therapy animals can help decrease stress in humans. Petting a dog can help lower blood pressure and boost levels of feel-good chemicals in the brain, according to WebMD.

Hawaii Fi-Do is a Kahuku nonprofit organization founded in 1999 to breed, raise and train assistance dogs. This is the first time it is holding a holiday meet-and-greet downtown, according to Kennedy.

Four to five service dogs, a mix of Labrador retrievers and labradoodles 6 months to 2 years old, will be on hand for the event.

It’s a win-win situation, said Kennedy, because the dogs will be learning how to behave properly in public while being socialized as part of their training to become companion dogs for people with disabilities. At the same time, members of the public can take a break from their busy day and learn more about service dogs. People are welcome to stop and pet the dogs, take photos and share stories of their own dogs.

Fi-Do’s dogs also visit shopping malls, hospitals and nursing homes as part of their training. Visit hawaiifido.org for more information.