|
Pets As Therapy is a national charity founded in 1983. It is unique in that
it provides therapeutic visits to hospitals, hospices, nursing and care
homes, special needs schools and a variety of other venues by volunteers
with their own friendly, temperament tested and vaccinated dogs and cats.
Since its beginning over 23,000 P.A.T. dogs have been registered into the
Pets As Therapy scheme. Every year some of these retire and new dogs, having
first been examined and passed on health, temperament, suitability and
stability grounds, join Pets As Therapy.
Today there are currently over 4,500 active P.A.T. visiting dogs and 108
P.A.T. cats at work in the UK. Every week these calm friendly P.A.T. dogs
and cats give more than 130,000 people, both young and old, the pleasure and
chance to cuddle and talk to them. The bedsides that are visited each year
number a staggering 6.75million.
How to Join
Sick patients often feel isolated and even the most withdrawn seem to open
up and let the barriers down when
 their
regular Pets As Therapy visiting dog is around. These dogs bring everyday
life closer and with it all the happy associations for them of home
comforts. The constant companionship of an undemanding animal, that gives
unconditional love, is often one of the most missed aspects of their lives.
Pets As Therapy was formed to help make this loss more bearable and speed
recovery.
Research continues to validate the very real value of this daily work
undertaken in the community by voluntary Pets As Therapy visitors and their
dogs that work amongst those of us most in need of a little extra boost in
addition to medical skills and nursing care.
Once new visitors have passed their dogs through the assessment and health
check procedure and each has
come forward with two character references, their local Area Co-ordinator or
allocated contact waits to
be
contacted to activate the visiting process. This hard working team of
volunteers throughout the UK keep in regular contact with a designated
number of Pets As Therapy dogs and cats and their owners.
Area Co-ordinators maintain regular contact with every unit in their region,
which Pets As Therapy dogs
already visit. Area Co-ordinators also hold the list of establishments keen
to be matched with a suitable new recruit when one becomes available.
This is a community led charity, which very much thinks nationally but acts
locally, particularly in respect of
 vital
fund raising activities. Not every dog can be a Pets As Therapy dog and not
every dog owner has the time to undertake regular hospital visits. However,
the charity is working hard on a day-to-day basis to recruit and register
more suitable dogs, and their volunteer owners, to swell numbers and meet
demand. The Pets As Therapy Junior Club encourages children and young adults
to become involved with and learn about our work in the community and
responsible ownership in a fun way.
We are in the process of setting in place research to further validate the
very real health benefits these animals bring daily into the lives of those
people who are ill or disabled.
 All
Pets As Therapy dogs and cats are required to pass an assessment to check
their temperament by Pets
As Therapy accredited assessors or qualified vets, be fully vaccinated,
wormed and protected against fleas. Records are required by the charity and
each volunteer is bound to send
copies when boosters have been given
Each Pets As Therapy dog has an identifying tag on its collar and many of
them wear a distinctive yellow
coat. The owner has a photo ID badge which is worn for security at all times
when visiting. Pets As Therapy have introduced a photo ID tag for its Pets
As Therapy Dogs & Cats as well. As the largest charity of its type in
Europe, Pets As Therapy recognises that security needs are paramount and
that busy authorities and on duty staff alike, need the reassurance of a
therapeutic supportive service which is problem free. |
|
At
Pets As Therapy we believe our success depends on respect, dedication and
appreciation. We value our volunteers, their PAT dogs and cats, our clients
and establishments and our staff.
We always strive to conduct ourselves in
accordance with the highest ethical standards. Only by doing so can we
ensure the continuation of a first class service provided to the community.
Maureen Hennis (Chief Executive) |
