Meet Ted the Labradoodle, Cliff the Terrier, and Buddy the Gun Dog… the new four-legged friends given the job of bringing smiles to children at the North West’s children’s hospice.
The loveable pooches, along with their owners, have joined Derian House Children’s Hospice as volunteers following the retirement of the charity’s beloved therapy dog Shuna earlier this year, after seven years of loyal service.
The new Pets as Therapy (PAT) dogs will visit the hospice to give physical, emotional, and social support for families each week.
Leo Cliffe, who uses Derian House services, was one of the first young people at the hospice to meet new therapy dog Ted. Leo enjoyed giving Ted a big hug and stroking his soft fur.
Leo, 24, said: “It means a lot to me when Ted comes in. I thought that he was lovely and I thought that he was cute. Thank you very much.”
The benefits of having a therapy dog have been well-documented, with studies showing stroking a pet can reduce stress and bring a calming effect.
At the hospice, children love to stroke the dogs’ soft ears, and can take them for supervised walks around the hospice grounds.
“It is great to see how the children interact with Buddy,” said Andy Woods, owner of 12-year-old Buddy.
“He is small enough to be able to sit on their laps, or to sit quietly on a bed, while they stroke him or feel his fluffy ears. We enjoy joining the children’s music sessions, especially outside in the garden. Buddy loves being fussed over and stroked. All the staff are really friendly and love to stroke him too.
“Buddy is so relaxed and calm, and looks at you with his big brown eyes. He doesn’t run around or jump up, he’s pretty laid back and relaxed. He knows when I put this lead on that’s he coming to Derian. He gets excited, you can just tell. He’s in his element, it’s the highlight of his week.
“We saw that Derian House was looking for new therapy dogs in an advert in the newspaper. We applied, had an interview, we went through the Pets As Therapy assessment, and I’m so glad we did – we love it.”
“It’s great to be able to bring smiles to the children,” said Joanne, owner of Ted.
“Ted is very friendly and he’s enjoying visiting the hospice. He’s a large and calm dog, which means that the children and young people can reach him easily to stroke him. And it’s a great feeling to be a part of the team of volunteers here at Derian House. Everyone is very welcoming, and it’s nice to know that you’re doing something to help out.”
Frances Lees, Volunteer Services Coordinator at Derian House, said: “Our new therapy dogs, Ted, Cliff, and Buddy, are already bringing joy to the hospice. A simple cuddle or a wagging tail can bring a smile to a child’s face. It’s just magical to see.
“We welcome all kinds of volunteers at Derian House, not just furry ones and we are always on the look out for more volunteers to join us.
“It will cost £6million to run services at Derian House this year, and our volunteers play a vital role in allowing us to make a difference to our families – we simply couldn’t do without them.”
Derian House, based in Chorley, Lancashire, cares for more than 400 seriously ill babies, children, young people and their families from across the North West helping them to make the most of every moment.
