Today we catch up and say thank you to Adrian Welch from Bedfordshire, who visits a school with his cocker spaniel Dave.

Adrian tells us that volunteering with Pets As Therapy has made him more aware of some of the everyday challenges that people - such as teachers and pupils - face. 

“It's heartwarming to see the joy that Dave, or Dave the Dog as he’s known, can bring to their day," he smiles. "Dave loves seeing everyone - his tail never stops wagging and he rolls over for his tummy to be tickled."

Adrian admits that he did not imagine that volunteering and giving up a relatively small amount of his time could have such a massive impact on other people's day. "There is nothing better than leaving a visit knowing that you have brought so much fun and laughter."

Sadly, Dave had such a bad start in life. "He was passed from breeder to breeder and kept outside and he was unwell until we adopted him. Dave didn’t know what toys were, or how to play with them, so now it's lovely to be able to share all this with the children he visits. They can see he has a good home. It's a story with a happy ending!”