PEARL HARBOR, Hawaii — A unique event brought a welcome break to Sailors and shipyard employees at the Hawaii Regional Maintenance Center (HRMC) located at Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard Intermediate Maintenance Facility (PHNSY & IMF) Dec. 4, 2024.

Tuukka, a Golden Retriever and certified therapy dog with Pet Partners, a non-profit organization dedicated to improving human health and well-being through the human-animal bond, visited HRMC with his handler, Jackie Hugger, to offer a moment of calm and connection amidst the demands of daily life at the shipyard.

As the Sailors and shipyard workers scurried about the office preparing to tackle the day’s tasks, Tuukka’s arrival brightly contrasted with the industrial, down-to-business atmosphere. As HRMC personnel passed through the office, everyone paused to take a few minutes to pet the friendly dog, share stories, and enjoy the soothing presence of their four-legged visitor. In the middle of their demanding tasks, Tuukka brought a rare moment of relaxation.

“Pets center us,” said Capt. Brian Ryglowski, HRMC deputy commander. “Their presence positively affects our attitude and the energy in any environment. Taking a moment to pause, interact, and connect allows us to let down our guard, be real, and re-center on the things that matter most.”

For many, interacting with Tuukka offered a brief but impactful respite.

“It was such a nice break in the middle of a busy morning,” said one Sailor. “Just petting Tuukka helped clear my mind and gave me a chance to reset. Sometimes, it’s the little things that make a big difference.”

The visit provided immediate relief and strengthened the crew’s sense of camaraderie.

“No one talked about work,” Ryglowski exclaimed, noting how the therapy dog’s visit helped shift the focus away from the shipyard’s stress and allowed people to connect on a personal level.

Taking the time to set up the visit required coordination between shipyard and Pet Partners provided a bit of a challenge, but the efforts in the end was rewarding to everyone involved.

“It was definitely worth the effort,” said Hugger. “Seeing the crew engage with Tuukka and benefit from the visit was incredibly rewarding. It’s amazing how much a therapy animal can impact people in such a short amount of time.”

This visit also highlighted the importance of mental health and morale-boosting initiatives in potentially high-stress environments such as the shipyard. In places like PHNSY & IMF, where long hours and constant demands can take a toll, taking time to reset and recharge can be crucial. Programs that bring therapy animals into these spaces provide a simple but effective way to promote well-being and strengthen team bonds.

“The positive energy Tuukka brought was undeniable,” said one HRMC employee. “It’s something we could definitely do more often to keep morale high and reinforce the sense of community within the team.”

As the visit ended, the crew at HRMC returned to their tasks, with Tuukka leaving everyone with the memory that sometimes, the smallest moments of joy — like the wag of a tail — can have the most significant impact.

PHNSY & IMF is a field activity of Naval Sea Systems Command and a one-stop regional maintenance center for the Navy’s surface ships and submarines. It is the largest industrial employer in the state of Hawaii, with a combined civilian and military workforce of approximately 6,500. It is the most comprehensive fleet repair and maintenance facility between the U.S. West Coast and the Far East, strategically located in the heart of the Pacific, being about a week’s steaming time closer to potential regional contingencies in East Asia.