“It just brings such joy to be able to help people” Talkeetna tourists and visitors share grief, relief with bunny therapy.

In life, sometimes the greatest gifts someone can share with others is born out of tragedy, and that is just what one woman is doing in Talkeetna.

“Our son passed away. He was a wonderful man, and we miss him so much. I was shocked because he was such a healthy person. I just couldn’t believe it. I felt like I was in a nightmare. I was in shock,” says Dianne Merrill, who lost her son Monte in 2010.

When trying to find a way to cope with her grief, Merrill looked to pet therapy, and while she had a dog and horse that provided some measure of comfort, she felt perhaps a little more cuddle and a little bark, and thought about her furry friends from her youth.

“When I was a little girl, I had bunnies. They’re not barking or loud, and when you’re in pain and sorrow, you don’t need anything that makes a bunch of noise. So, I decided to do bunnies.”

Merrill found it so beneficial that she decided to share her bunny therapy with the tourists, who stop by, take a load off, and sometimes share their own stories of grief.

“We’ve been doing this for nearly 15 years, just sharing all these bunnies with the tourists that come here. Some will tell me of their pain and suffering. It is amazing. People will come here from Anchorage because their husband just committed suicide, and others come from far away and share they lost their sister to cancer. It’s amazing how effective this is.”

The bunnies aren’t just for those in grief, but also for pure enjoyment and getting a respite from traveling, the crowds, and wanting something a little soft and cuddly for a few minutes.

“I think this is a great idea,” says Tara Moore of Montana, who was visiting Talkeetna after having been in western Alaska with FEMA working on the remnants for Typhoon Merbok, which struck western Alaska last year. On Wednesday, she and her team will be to assist with efforts following the devastating wildfires that struck Lahania last month.

Moore says her offices will often utilize therapy dogs to help with the stress that often accompanies their work.

“Sometimes, we’ll bring in dogs into our joint field offices in our Emergency Operations Centers, and it really helps calm people down,” she said, while gushing at the little bunny she was holding.

So the next time someone takes a trip to Talkeetna, look for Dianne Merrill and her bunnies, stop and take a load off, cuddle the bunnies, and just soak up the goodness. Merrill doesn’t charge for the bunny therapy, but people can donate for the care of her furry friends.

“It just brings such joy to be able to help people.”