TWIN FALLS, Idaho — The St. Luke’s Magic Valley location brought on a security K-9, Mack, to offer a wagging tail and emotional support for patients and hospital staff.
Mack visits patients who are looking for a furry friend to lean on.
“It gives the person a chance to have some normalcy in their life, especially the ones that are missing pets… it gives them that ability to just have that pet in their life,” said Frank Neumeyer, security officer and Mack’s handler at St. Luke’s, Twin Falls.
Neumeyer joins the St. Luke’s security team after working for the Department of Corrections and serving in the military, where he worked with explosives and drug dogs.
The eleven-month-old is also training to detect explosives as an added security measure. After joining the security team in July 2021, Mack has already put in over 100 hours of work.
Mack has been a staple for staff throughout the intensity of the COVID—19 surges, by lending a helping paw.
“This gives them a few minutes a couple of times a day where they can just stop, sit down with the dog, hug on him, play with him, give him a chance to just be a dog, and forget about all of the stuff they are having to deal with,” said Neumeyer.
The Magic Valley location hopes to bring on an additional security K-9 in the future.
