Were there days throughout the past year when you felt like your dog was your saving grace? Maybe he was the reason you headed outside for a daily walk. Maybe she kept you laughing with her ridiculous antics. Or maybe your caring canine just sat with you in times of stress or uncertainty, a calm presence during an unprecedented period of time.
While the people working on the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic have been out there keeping us safe, our pets have been holding down the fort at home, always there to offer unconditional love.
Dr. Ann Frank of Greenville, a clinical psychologist, said, “There’s nothing fake about the benefits of having a pet by your side, especially if you’re emotionally bonded. Whether dog, cat, or bunny – our furry companions have given us lifesaving antidote for the psychological and physical stress caused by the coronavirus pandemic.
12/30/2020
Businesses faced closure, struggled to adapt in 2020
Nick and Elaine Markopolous, of Hudson, Mass., are served by Justine Dancuse, of Woonsocket, outside Christopher’s Kitchen & Bar in May. (Breeze file photo by Robert Emerson)
Pandemic spurs new activity in some sectors
There were few sectors harder hit by the COVID-19 pandemic than the small business community, where protective measures disrupted a way of life for thousands of business owners across the state.
In Woonsocket, restaurant owners and small retail businesses were forced to shut their doors to customers in March as a wave of infections spread across the state. Takeout replaced table service as customers flocked to support local restaurants, but with fewer customers and no in-person alcohol sales, many owners still reported a drop in sales of more than 50 percent.