TheraPaws: highlighting the value of the human-animal bond

Launched by Mayhew in 2012, TheraPaws is an Animal Assisted Intervention programme designed to promote physical, social and emotional wellbeing. This work has been shown to reduce stress, decrease feelings of isolation, build confidence and esteem in young people and even unlock memories and emotions for those living with dementia or Alzheimer’s.

TheraPaws specialises in three types of Animal Assisted Interventions: -

1. Animal Assisted Activities

These activities can include any form of human-animal interactions that focus on helping to improve quality of life. TheraPaws volunteers and their dogs visit care homes, hospitals, hospices and corporate workplaces to improve people's well-being through animal assisted activities.

2. Collaborative-Animal Assisted Therapy

This form of therapy is designed to promote improvements in physical, social, emotional or cognitive function. Working with a qualified therapist or healthcare professional, the dogs and their owners work with mental health centres, hospitals and support groups.

3. Collaborative-Animal Assisted Education

Our TheraPaws dogs and their owners play an important role in the education and learning process of this programme where we work with a qualified teacher or education/healthcare professional. All visits are documented, evaluated and measured, and our visits include Special Education Needs schools and educational centres.

The positive effect of TheraPaws

The TheraPaws programme continues to go from strength to strength and has helped thousands of people in locations ranging from hospital wards, care homes, and eating disorder clinics to schools and mental health clinics.

Roobarb, a Mayhew TheraPaws Dog

Roobarb is a Mayhew TheraPaws Dog

Roobarb loves interacting with patients

who works alongside her owner, Claire, a Mayhew TheraPaws volunteer. The two make weekly visits to a care home where residents get to interact with Roobarb, play with her, and even watch as she shows off some tricks!

Carmel, the activities coordinator at the home, says that Roobarb’s visits are the highlight of the week for some residents, and that seeing her always has a positive impact on anyone she meets. Thanks to a generous grant from the Pets at Home Foundation in February for TheraPaws, Mayhew plans develop and expand their work in Animal Assisted Interventions and make a difference for even more people in London.

To find out more about Mayhew TheraPaws, please visit https://themayhew.org/therapaws/ Thank you.