SPRINGFIELD – In celebration of Nurses Week, PeaceHealth RiverBend held its second annual Puppies and Pancakes event last Friday morning.

The event allowed nurses and other caregivers to take a break from work by cuddling or walking a dog, and enjoying freshly-made pancakes and other breakfast foods. Lucky Pawz Rescue and Unbreakabull Rescue Allies’ animal shelters were onsite with puppies while members of PeaceHealth’s food and nutrition services team cooked breakfast.

“It’s cool that PeaceHealth tries to have something really happy for the employees and anybody to come and check it out and see how they can help have a little one,” said PeaceHealth employee Julia Galligher while holding a dog that she said reminded her of one she used to have. “It’s really cool because my husband and I have rescued several dogs in the past, and I lost one of my dogs a year ago, so we did get another rescue.”

All of the puppies were available for adoption, and members of the public were invited to attend to show their support for nurses and to have the opportunity to adopt a dog.

According to a news release by Jim Murez, PeaceHealth communications manager, caregivers in the Institute for Nursing Excellence came up with the idea after attending a conference where organizers invited dog adoption groups to bring dogs and puppies to provide attendees with an outlet to decompress or visit with for a fun diversion.