London: Pioneering therapy at St John's Hospice

Therapaws Harley and Oscar

St John's Hospice in St John's Wood, has been visited once a week by Therapaws over the last two years. Regular volunteers Zoe and Claire, from the Mayhew Animal Home, bring a specially-trained pug named Flora and two Jack Russels, Harley and Oscar on alternate weeks. This interaction is proving to have many benefits for patients, including stress reduction and lowering blood pressure. Visits can also unlock memories and emotions, especially from those suffering with dementia.

Volunteer Coordinator, Shelley said: "A visit from TheraPaws can make a patient's day. Seeing and playing with the animal takes the patients' minds off their situation, even if it's just for a minute. One example is a patient was asking for painkillers but when the dogs arrived they started playing and soon forgot about the pain. The dogs transport patient's minds to a different place and help them forget for a while. Many patients look forward to the visit from TheraPaws and are always asking me when the next visit is. To see the difference a few minutes with a dog makes is unbelievable. Patients are so sad when the time is up and they have to say goodbye."

For more information or if you would like to become a volunteer, visit: https://themayhew.org/about/local-community-work/working-with-the-elderly-therapaws/

Read about St John's Hospice: www.stjohnshospice.org.uk/