Sandra from Barnet, north London, has been a PAT Volunteer with her dog Poppy for eight years

Whenever Poppy the blue roan cocker spaniel sees her blue lead, she knows she has some important work to do.

"She notices that I've picked up her special blue lead and I can tell she's excited," smiles PAT Volunteer Sandra. "Poppy realises she's off on some PAT visits and is going to see people."

The amazing PAT Team make regular visits to a couple of hospitals in Barnet, as well as a primary school in Whetstone. And Sandra says volunteering is a fantastic feeling.

Poppy's magical touch

Sandra recalls visiting a hospital one day and meeting a young child who was about to go for an operation. "They were scared and had tensed up, so I placed Poppy carefully on the child's bed, using a little blanket for her to lie on."

Focusing on Poppy, the girl relaxed and allowed the surgeon to proceed with a necessary injection. "With my PAT Dog by her side, she didn't seem bothered with the needle in her arm. The parents could not believe how Poppy had turned everything around. It was such a wonderful feeling."

Sandra, who's retired, says she sees so many different emotions while on her visits with Poppy. She meets people who are feeling distressed, and those who just want to befriend a loving dog.

"You can make such a difference to people's lives by being a PAT Volunteer," she says. "Look around you and remember your animal has a gift and can give love and affection to people in your community."