As part of June's Pride Month, PAT Volunteer Ryan Waters has shared experiences from Pride parades and events where his Pomsky Trixie has been offering emotional support, reassurance and moments of calm to attendees, volunteers and emergency service workers.

“One of the biggest things I notice is the joy dogs bring,” says Ryan. “They help people relax, they help people feel safe and they give people confidence to connect with others.”

One moment that particularly stayed with Ryan happened during a Pride event where a member of the local fire and rescue service had been dealing with anti-LGBTQIA+ protestors.

“Afterwards, they came over to see Trixie for a cuddle and said how much better it made them feel,” Ryan explains. “It was such a small interaction, but it clearly meant a lot in that moment.”

Ryan says volunteering has also had a significant personal impact on his own life.

“Being a full-time unpaid carer means I’m unable to work, so volunteering with Trixie allows me to do something for me as well. It gives me a sense of purpose and something really positive to focus on.”

Ryan says it's obvious Trixie enjoys the visits just as much as the people she meets.

“You can see in her demeanour that she loves meeting people, loves the attention and, of course, the treats!” he laughs.

“Trixie has always been incredibly affectionate and has this natural ability to understand when someone needs her. She really leads most of our visits. I just make sure she’s safe and happy.”