Petting a pooch is often the best medicine
I was glad Dr Max Pemberton has extolled the benefits to hospital patients of visits from their pets, and that he mentioned the work of the charity Pets as Therapy (PAT). Exactly a year ago, my small dog alfie Beau, after passing the charity’s rigid assessments, started work as a PAT dog, making weekly visits to our local care home, Mills Meadow, in Framlingham, suffolk, He became a friend to numerous residents, and to see their faces light up as ‘their’ dog arrives on his rounds is a joy for me, his owner. One year on, I am almost surplus to requirements, except as the person needed to hold the end of the lead. alfie knows his way around, which of the residents enjoy just stroking him and which require a full-on cuddle. when one day he found one of his wheelchair friends confined to bed and looking very poorly, he climbed under the covers and snuggled up for a longer than usual visit (don’t tell the nurses). If a dementia patient speaks to him in what seems to me to be gobbledegook, he puts his head on one side and listens intently, giving the impression that he understands every word — which he probably does. Most of the residents have had to make the heartbreaking decision to re-home their own beloved pets before moving into care. Even those homes which accept pets would find it impossible to cope if there were more than one or two. so the work of PaT dogs (and cats) is invaluable, and I think every able-bodied pet owner with time to spare should consider becoming part of this worthwhile charity. FraNces thorNelY-taYlor,
Woodbridge, suffolk.