Thursday, March 28, 2024
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Pets as therapy

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Kelley and Oscar

Kelley Sprawson of Cofton Hackett explains how her dog Oscar brightens the lives of others…

Oscar and I are “visiting volunteers” for the Pets As Therapy charity – a national charity that relies on local people to bring companionship and comfort to others through their pets.

I have had Oscar for four years now, having re-homed him from Birmingham Dogs’ Home. He was very timid when he first came home with us, but he settled very quickly, and it became apparent early on that he was a calm and loving dog who thrived on meeting new people, and getting fuss and love from everyone!

Every dog owner surely recognises that after a stressful day there’s nothing more therapeutic than having a good old snuggle with your canine friend. Their love is unconditional; they can read your mood; they just make you feel better. 

This rather unscientific – and very personal – view has been backed up by numerous, much more credible studies.

Having heard about Pets As Therapy, I thought that Oscar would be ideal as a P.A.T dog, and started to make enquiries. Clearly it was not enough that I thought he was the right type of character (I’m a little biased after all!), so he had to under-go an assessment that looked at his temperament.

How did he react to new people? How did he cope with walking on slippery floors? Was he happy to be brushed? Was he gentle when offered treats?

We both passed our tests and checks, and we were then given a list of local establishments which had requested a visit from a local P.A.T dog (or cat). Looking at the list, there were a lot of these who had been waiting for quite some time. 

It was a long list – plenty of demand for visits, but not the same level of available volunteers, which struck me as a real shame. 

I got in contact with one local nursing home which had been on the waiting list for almost 10 years! We went down that day to see how Oscar got on, and if this would be the right type of environment for him. 

He was a huge hit instantly, with the faces of the residents visibly lighting up when they saw him.  He thrived on all the fuss and attention, and just for that visit, some of the residents felt they had a pet again. 

In this area, there are a lot of establishments looking after the elderly and it’s unfortunate that most volunteers seem to prefer to work with children and/or hospitals. I can only speak for myself (and imagine what Oscar might say) but we have found it to be a fantastically rewarding experience visiting and spending time with our more senior local residents. 

Very often, these people have had to give up their pets as their health deteriorates, and they miss them dreadfully. Oscar has become an integral part of some of these people’s lives, with his visits noted on calendars and activity planners – he’s a real high point in their week. 

It goes without saying, of course, that Oscar loves the fuss – and the numerous treats from Auntie Muriel. I have found it really worthwhile sharing Oscar with some of our local nursing home residents; it is a real joy to brighten up someone else’s day.

If you have some free time – especially during the week – and have a pet (dogs, versus cats, are more commonly accepted as their temperaments tend to be more suitable) who brings you happiness, please do think about giving up an hour a week and becoming a Pets As Therapy volunteer.

You can get all the info you need from https://www.petsastherapy.org, or feel free to contact me via The Village.

GET IN TOUCH!
If you’d like your pet to feature, send pics, stories and questions to us at The Village.

Townsend Veterinary Practice
168 Birmingham Road, Bromsgrove,
B61 0HB Tel: 01527 831616

North Street Estate, Droitwich
WR9 8JB Tel: 01905 772002

95 New Road, Rubery, B45 9JR
Tel: 0121 453 5828

https://www.townsendveterinarypractice.co.uk 
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