Pets as therapy

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SPOTLIGHT ON: PETS AS THERAPY

Love on a leash: that’s what outreach organisation Pets as Therapy (PAT) offers. The team of 80 volunteers, along with their canine colleagues, makes a difference in the lives of people in special-needs schools, hospices, frail-care facilities and retirement homes. With regular visits by volunteers and their dogs, those who need extra love and cheer can lean on the loyalty of furry friends.

Studies have shown that having a pet as a companion helps with stress and anxiety (and lowers blood pressure). Pets also allow us to be silly and playful, and they encourage exercise (good for your heart health). It’s this natural feel-good influence that removes the need for the animals and humans to be trained or qualified – simply interacting brings benefits to everyone. It’s worth noting that before volunteers are assigned to visits, their animals do undergo a behavioural and obedience assessment for safety reasons and to ensure they’ll be well behaved. If the volunteer team passes the evaluation, they are placed at a suitable facility.

Each visit lasts for an hour, and they take place two to three times per month. Volunteers are expected to commit to regular visits as it ensures a meaningful and reliable presence, fostering lasting connections and positive experiences, explains Roenel Swart, acting chairman of PAT. For more info, visit pat.org.za

ALL EARS

PAT also has a reading programme (Lees-Ukufunda-Read), where volunteers and their dogs visit Grade 3 pupils at schools or public libraries. The children are encouraged to read out loud to their furry friends so they can improve their reading skills without feeling nervous. Currently, this activity is available in Cape Town and Somerset West, but will soon be launched in Polokwane as well.

Imagery: Supplied