As the USA women’s gymnastics team racked up gold medals at this summer’s Olympics in Paris, the world learned all about an unlikely but crucial member of their team: a golden retriever named Beacon, USA Gymnastics’ first-ever therapy dog.

Now, Beacon’s owner is asking fans to send thoughts and prayers as the beloved dog is in the hospital 😢💔

Beacon’s owner Tracey Callahan Molnar announced the troubling news on the dog’s Instagram account. “This is an incredibly difficult post to make,” she wrote. “I’ve decided to share this now because beacon has 50k + followers and i know that can mean 50k + people sending him wishes for healing and good health.”

She wrote that Beacon was admitted to an emergency pet hospital on September 4, after displaying some troubling symptoms including stiffness, labored breathing and a fever, which were not reacting to any treatments.

X-rays revealed fluid in his chest that was causing the labored breathing, and vets were very concerned about his high fever. Beacon was transported to an emergency hospital to meet with specialists, who are currently working to find a diagnosis.

“Some diagnostics have been done but more to go,” Molnar wrote. “My understanding is that there are many potential causes therefore, many things to rule out.”

While she awaits further news, Molnar asked fans to send “good wishes,” whether in the form of positive thoughts, prayers or “virtual hugs.”

“Thank you to everyone who is able to keep beacon in your thoughts,” she wrote. “I know it will help him and mean the world to me.”

The USA Gymnastics account also shared the news, and wrote they were “wishing Good Boy Beacon a speedy recovery!”

Beacon: USA Gymnastics’ therapy dog

Beacon made history as USA Gymnastics’ first-ever therapy dog. His story made headlines this year as the women’s team saw major success in the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris.

Molnar adopted Beacon as a puppy in 2020, after her previous dog Tulsa passed away, according to USA Today. When Molnar saw how much Beacon loved and gravitated towards people, she knew he could potentially follow in Tulsa’s footsteps as a therapy dog.

She was friends with Caroline Hunt, vice president of the rhythmic gymnastics program at USA Gymnastics, who was interested in adding a pet therapy program to USAG. The dog therapy program launched in February 2023 at a rhythmic gymnastics program in Indianapolis. Overcoming skepticism, the program proved to have mental health benefits for the competitors.

“They saw the benefit,” Molnar told USA Today. “They heard their daughters, or their gymnasts talk about how much better they felt, how much calmer they felt going onto the competition floor and they credited being able to spend time with the therapy dogs in advance of the competition.”

Beacon and the burgeoning therapy dog program received national attention after he comforted the gymnasts and coaches during the Olympic trials in June, the high-stakes event in which athletes competed for slots on Team USA.

Before and after the trials, competitors were able to visit Beacon and his fellow therapy dogs, who greeted them enthusiastically. Spending time with a therapy dog has been known to reduce stress and anxiety — as the owner put it, Beacon “absorbs the stress” of those who turn to him for comfort.

She said the golden retriever was exhausted after a day of comforting the gymnasts, but the work was worth it: “I think we did important work. It was a rough night for some of the gymnasts, and I think Beacon helped celebrate the good stuff and be there and give support for the challenges.”

Beacon and the other therapy dogs joined the team at a time when there has been an increased conversation about the mental health toll gymnastics can take. More competitors have been prioritizing mental wellness.

“Over the last several years, our athletes have consistently told us that what they would like more of is mental health support, as well as nutritional support,” Jill Geer, USAG’s chief communications and marketing officer, told USA Today.

“They’ve turned things around entirely and now they are clearly thinking, ‘What does the athlete need?’ and it’s so nice,” three-time Olympian and coach Sam Mikulak told the New York Times. “Sometimes, just being there is all someone needs to get through a tough time. And a dog brings that triple-fold.”

Due to complicated logistics, Beacon was unable to travel with the team to Paris for the Olympics, but rooted them on from his home in California.

Beacon is an incredible dog, and we’re hoping he makes a fully and speedy recovery 😢🙏

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Source: Los Angeles Times (edited)