Therapaws Newsletter Summer 2016

Summer 2016 | Issue

1

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All the latest news from The Mayhew’s pet therapy programme

Meet Lola, a TheraPaws star Spotlight on Ernest Dene Care Home

Welcome

News update

Hello and welcome to the new quarterly TheraPaws ® newsletter! TheraPaws is a visiting pet therapy programme for older people delivered by The Mayhew Animal Home.

Our dedicated team of volunteers take their assessed dogs into care and residential homes, hospitals, hospices and day centres to engage with residents, provide companionship, build relationships and brighten up their day.

At present TheraPaws visits over 40 different centres spread across 11 boroughs in London, and during the first three months of 2016 we completed 227 visits in the city. In this newsletter you can read about just a few of our inspiring volunteers, amazing dogs and wonderful centres that make TheraPaws possible.

Open Day The Mayhew celebrated its 130th birthday at the annual Open Day in May and TheraPaws were there in force to join in the party! Not only did we have TheraPaws dogs on the stall, but for one day only we hijacked the Sensory Garden at The Mayhew and had “meet and greet” sessions all day (see BenJecky in the photo below getting some cuddles!). People loved getting to know the different dogs and learning about the work they do, and it was great to see people of all ages interacting with the fabulously well-behaved dogs.

Happy reading!

Luke Berman TheraPaws Project Manager

Helping NOAH celebrate their 30th year TheraPaws attended the wonderful gala dinner at the QE 2 Conference Centre in May to say congratulations to NOAH (National Office of Animal Health) on their 30th birthday. In 2015, TheraPaws was chosen as Charity Partner by NOAH and we’ve had a great year working with them. There were speeches, fine dining, raffle and awards and it was great to meet other previous charity partners such Medical Detection Dogs and Hounds for Heroes.

Outreach in the community

Above: Luke with Lola and Lexi, two of our Staffie TheraPaws dogs.

For the second time, TheraPaws visited Depression Alliance in St Peter’s Church, Kensington, to meet and interact with members. Everyone was very excited to see the dogs and wanted to know all about them, as well as giving them lots of hugs. We hope to return again very soon. www.themayhew.org/therapaws

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Lola spreads the love Meet Lola, a lovely eleven year old Staffie who dedicates her precious time to helping older people by volunteering as a TheraPaws dog in a care home in London, dishing out much-needed cuddles and love.

Lola and her doting owner, Charlie, have been visiting The Kenbrook Residential Home, which provides care for people suffering from dementia, since August 2015. Lola is the perfect therapy dog because she is so gentle and peaceful to be around – and she really enjoys her visits, with her tail constantly wagging and nose searching for crumbs.

“Even though we only go for an hour every two weeks, so many of the residents now recognise her. It means a lot to see the joy in their faces when I take Lola in,” says Charlie.

Charlie adopted Lola from The Mayhew six years ago, after she was dumped at our shelter during the night in her bed with her toys. Lola is a rare ‘blue’ (grey coat) Staffie and her puppies can sell for up to £1000 per pup, so we suspect her previous owners used her as a breeding machine and then abandoned her when she was no longer wanted.

When Charlie first started looking for a dog to adopt she wasn’t looking for a Staffie and was wary of the breed due to the negative image they receive in the press. But as soon as she met Lola, she fell in love.

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TheraPaws _ Summer 2016

Above: Lola and another TheraPaws dog, Ellie, at The Mayhew’s Open Day.

Above and top left: Lola and her owner, Charlie, at The Mayhew’s Christmas event Tinsel & Tails.

Above: Lola is a beautiful girl with a lot of love to give.

Charlie said: “I couldn’t speak more highly of Staffies now. Since I got her and my friends have met her, two of them have gone on to adopt Staffies as well!

They specifically sought out Staffies because Lola is such a fantastic dog.”

Not only is Lola a caring therapy dog who is helping to improve peoples’ lives, she is also a brilliant Staffie ambassador who is changing peoples’ perceptions of the breed. In our eyes, she’s a true pet hero!

Above: Lola, Charlie and Jane at The Kenbrook with staff before a visit. www.themayhew.org/therapaws

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Spotlight on…

Ernest Dene Residential Care Home, Muswell Hill TheraPaws team: Jane and Ruth with Shadow www.ventry-care.com/ernest-dene

“We all love the TheraPaws visits here at Ernest Dene Care Home, residents and staff! It’s great to see our canine visitor at the front door and we all look forward to it. Word quickly spreads when Shadow has arrived and everyone stops to say hello as they move about the building, visiting residents in their rooms and in the lounges.

Shadow is a friendly, wonderful focal point for conversation and creates a delightful atmosphere in the care home.

It is a complete break from any usual routine and very different to other events on our social calendar. All of our residents love to interact with Shadow; it makes them happy and brings a lightness and joy to their day. Our residents interact in different ways, but always positively, whether talking to, stroking or tickling the dog.

Unfortunately many residents suffer from progressive dementia related diseases and the stage the disease is at will dictate their overall abilities. But the presence of the TheraPaws dog always elicits recognition and a smile from them. Whether this is the unlocking of a memory or just a feeling of contentment in the present, then that is fine with us, so long as they are happy.”

Mandeep Kaur (Manager at Ernest Dene) 6

TheraPaws _ Summer 2016

Meet a TheraPaws team: Jo and Laila

How long have you been volunteering with TheraPaws?

We have been volunteering since January 2016.

Where do you regularly visit?

The Princess Alexandra Care Home, Stanmore.

Above: Jane, Ruth and Shadow with Mandeep and another staff member at Ernest Dene.

Above: Shadow just after passing his TheraPaws assessment at The Mayhew.

“The visits at Ernest Dene are very enjoyable. The positive reaction we get when we first arrive shows that the residents really enjoy the visits, with some saying how pleased they are to see Shadow. It makes us feel that we really do make a difference.”

Ruth (TheraPaws Volunteer)

What attracted you to it?

I strongly believe in the therapeutic benefits that dogs can provide to human companions. Laila, my 6 year old Labradoodle, is a real people dog so I knew she would be great for TheraPaws. She is chilled, relaxed and will do anything for a biscuit! So I signed us up and she’s doing great.

We’re giving back something small but meaningful to a community that can greatly benefit from some time spent with a good-natured dog.

Above: Jo and Laila’s first visit to Princess Alexandria Home.

What is your fondest memory?

One of the residents I visit is Molly, who is 104 years old. For three months, Molly would tell me how much she liked Laila and I but she didn’t seem to remember us from one visit to the next. But then Can you remember your first visit? on one visit a couple of weeks later, I was nervous and Laila kept looking for she was so happy to see us and now crumbs on the floor! But we were able to remembers us whenever we come into chat to many of the residents on our first her room and sit next to her for a chat. day and we came out feeling relieved and She told her son that a dog comes to looking forward to going back. It took visit her and he didn’t believe her - then Laila a few visits to understand what it’s we popped into her room! This made all about but now she’s a natural and them both very happy and that is what lets all the residents stroke her. volunteering for TheraPaws is all about. www.themayhew.org/therapaws

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New TheraP ws dogs on the block!

Percy

marci

Marci is 5½ years old and will soon be visiting a care home in Harrow

Percy is a 2 year old rescue dog and has recently started visiting Forrester Court Care Home

To find out more about TheraPaws or if you are interested in volunteering with your own dog in North or West London, please visit our website at www.themayhew.org/therapaws Alternatively, if you have any questions please contact Luke Berman, TheraPaws Project Manager on 020 8962 8004 or luke@mayhewanimalhome.org To make a donation towards TheraPaws or any of The Mayhew’s work please visit our website at www.themayhew.org/donate or call 020 8206 5870 The Mayhew Animal Home, Trenmar Gardens, Kensal Green, London NW10 6BJ www.themayhew.org Registered Charity No 1077588