TheraPaws spring newsletter 2017

Spring 2017 | Issue

4

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

Biscuit’s story – from rescue to therapy dog Spotlight on Alan Morkill House care home

Welcome

News update

Hello and welcome to the spring issue of the quarterly TheraPaws newsletter. It’s getting warmer and we’re excited about some upcoming events this summer, including our Open Day on Sunday 21st May where you will have the chance to meet some of our wonderful TheraPaws dogs, so make sure you come along!

John Lewis Brent Cross Visit

In this issue discover Biscuit’s story, our proud TheraPaws dog rescued by The Mayhew as a puppy. You can also get an insight into the working lives of a TheraPaws team in an interview with Kevin, one of our fantastic volunteers.

We were recently invited behind the scenes at John Lewis in Brent Cross to offer some animal therapy to the partners to help battle potential stress at work.

The wonderful doggie trio Max, Wally and Lulu, accompanied by TheraPaws volunteers Flick and Bev, gave many partners a lift at work and they could concentrate on doggy cuddles.

Middlesex University Talk

Happy reading!

We visited Middlesex University to speak about TheraPaws to 100 nursing, mental health nursing and social worker students. We had three TheraPaws teams with us: Olive with Rebecca, Cosmo with Sue and Noodle with Deborah. It is so important to educate the next generation of nurses to ensure animals are welcome into care homes, hospitals and hospices as we know they do wonders for people recovering from illness and struggling with stress and isolation.

Luke Berman TheraPaws Project Manager

TheraPaws is a visiting animal therapy programme 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 in London to engage with residents, provide companionship, build relationships and brighten up their day.

To find out more, get in touch with Luke Berman, TheraPaws Project Manager on 020 8962 8004 or luke@mayhewanimalhome.org

In Memory

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

Front cover: Laura and Beau Photograph by Rowan Williams rophotographs.com

Sadly we had to say goodbye to three of our dearly loved TheraPaws dogs in the past months. Finn, Lupo and Ellie will be greatly missed by everyone.

Finn, a bouncy and affectionate Staffy cross sadly passed away. Finn and his owner Caroline were regular visitors to Lawnfield House Care Home in Willesden and St Mungo’s homelessness charity, bringing a smile to many a face. www.themayhew.org/therapaws

We also said goodbye to Lupo, a lovely, gentle Westie who accompanied his owner, Gilmar, to Willesden Court Care Home twice a week for their enjoyment.

Ex-Mayhew dog, Ellie, who was also a fantastic TheraPaws ambassador, passed away suddenly. Friendly to everyone and loved by all at Woodland Hall in Harrow, North London, Ellie was a regular at events and always brought smiles to people’s faces.

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From rescue dog to therapy dog Caroline and Biscuit began volunteering with TheraPaws in December 2016 and have already made a great impression at the care home they visit. Biscuit, who is a Mayhew rescue dog, loves to brighten up the days of those in need and show just how much a rescue dog can give them.

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TheraPaws _ Summer 2017

The Mayhew, Caroline was already aware of the TheraPaws animal therapy programme.

After successfully completing their assessment to become TheraPaws volunteers, Caroline and Biscuit now visit stroke survivors at the Kingsgate Resource Centre in North London.

Caroline wasn’t at all nervous on their first visit as Biscuit is very calm around people – if it were squirrels it would be quite different! But Biscuit is very sweet and gentle and enjoys getting treats from her new friends at the Centre.

Caroline’s fondest moments of her visits so far are hearing the memories of people’s pets from their childhood, which range from Red Setters on Hampstead Heath to adopting stray dogs in Africa. Caroline says “I also love the tricks one of the residents has taught Biscuit. It makes everyone smile.”

She continues: “I enjoy spending time with Biscuit in a different setting and seeing the smiles on people’s faces when she walks in. Biscuit makes me happy and I’m so pleased I can spread that happiness around!”

Biscuit is extremely calm and gentle around people.

Biscuit and Caroline make a dream team!

Biscuit is named so because of her nose markings!

Biscuit and Caroline bringing joy to the residents.

Photography by Ian Morrison, DogstarPhoto.co.uk

Three-year-old Biscuit (formerly Primrose) was taken in by The Mayhew as a puppy, as she was born into an accidental litter by a Golden Retriever mother and Husky father. The owner soon realised they couldn’t handle the six puppies and asked The Mayhew for help in rehoming them. The twomonth-old puppies were taken in by The Mayhew and very quickly Biscuit (renamed because her nose markings look like a chocolate chip biscuit!) was snapped up by Caroline. Biscuit and Caroline have been inseparable since, with Biscuit growing up to be a gorgeous and loving dog.

During 2016, Caroline unfortunately spent a lot of time in hospitals as her mother-in-law suffered from Alzheimer’s and passed away in the spring and her husband was in hospital for months over the summer after a bad bike accident. During this year Caroline met amazing care-givers who inspired her to want to give back something to others.

It seemed the perfect way to do so was to involve her best friend Biscuit, and because she is a rescue dog from

www.themayhew.org/therapaws

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Spotlight on…

Meet a TheraPaws team

Alan Morkill House, West London Carly Manners, Activity Coordinator, tells us her thoughts on TheraPaws and how it helps the patients in the care home.

Where do you regularly visit?

We visit Westmead Care Home in West London.

Kevin and Lexi

TheraPaws team: Laura and Doreen with Lola “Lola the dog and Laura and Doreen come to visit the residents at Alan Morkill House every other Friday and when they arrive it brings smiles to the residents’ faces instantly!

We have a resident who worked for Her Majesty the Queen for over 40 years, and worked closely with Her Majesty’s dogs. Every time we have Laura, Doreen and Lola here, the resident smiles from ear to ear. All our residents always enjoy seeing Lola and we have her gravy treats at the ready for her arrival.

Laura and Doreen encourage everyone to get involved. My fondest memory of TheraPaws at Alan Morkill House would have to be the day we gave out treats to each resident to give to Lola. One resident used to have Alsatian dogs and trained them as puppies with her partner, so she would not give Lola a treat until she sat. She had the biggest smile on her face once she realised Lola listened to her.

Now, every time Lola comes into the home she will say ‘Sit’ and look her steady in the eye. There is always joy and happiness once Lola sits as our resident feels fulfilled that she can still train a dog to sit.

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TheraPaws _Summer 2017

Lola enjoying the attention at Alan Morkill House.

Since the TheraPaws visits, one of our residents has overcome their fear of dogs!

Throughout her life our resident had always disliked dogs, however since meeting Lola she has become very fond of her and always has a big smile upon seeing her.

TheraPaws is amazing and I would highly recommend the programme to everyone within all care environments.

The residents reminisce over old times when they had their own dogs. It is definitely an amazing therapy, especially with volunteers like Laura and Doreen!

They go above and beyond for our residents and ensure they all get to spend time with Lola. They even join in with our Bingo games and join us when we have parties. We always have such a giggle when they are there.

I’d like to say a big ‘thank you’ to TheraPaws from everyone at Alan Morkill House for enhancing the lives of our residents.”

could see him become more relaxed and happy. This happened a number of times over the next few months; he even managed to communicate enough What attracted you to TheraPaws? to say he never had his own dog. It was I had been thinking about doing this sort a touching experience that will live with of work for a couple of years. I saw similar me forever and it is a true example of projects on TV - buddy dogs in the US why these visits are so important. interacting with people who are suffering.

It seemed interesting as people generally What are your thoughts on the can’t have pets with them in care TheraPaws programme? homes, so it is a lovely idea to take a It helps to break up the residents’ day dog in to visit them. The residents don’t and gives them something different to need to talk; they can just be with them. do and look forward to. Dogs are easy company, with no pressure and no Do you remember your first visit? demands. I am really pleased TheraPaws I remember being nervous when we has grown, that there are so many dogs started as I didn’t know what to expect now and that the programme is doing and because I wanted it to work out so well. I think it is really beneficial to the much. As it turned out I enjoyed myself residents, especially to those who have as I relaxed into the role, and it went little or no visitors. really smoothly. Lexi enjoyed herself (of course), the residents really wanted to meet with her and the staff were brilliant.

What’s your fondest memory so far?

Nearer the time I started I met a man who had recently had a stroke and this had taken away his capacity for speech.

He found it hard to communicate with the staff and this left him feeling really frustrated. When he saw Lexi he insisted on getting down on his hands and knees to play with her. Lexi loved it and all the residents were looking on and enjoying it. The man didn’t need his voice when playing with Lexi, so you www.themayhew.org/therapaws

Kevin and Lexi.

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Meet our new TheraP ws dogs miLLie

y

milk

Adorable Milky is a loving and affectionate 6 year old who is looking forward to visiting the stroke ward at Charing Cross Hospital.

TheraPaws is entirely funded by the generous donations of our supporters.

Each initial visit costs The Mayhew over £312. In 2016, the TheraPaws team made over 1103 visits. If you’d like to make a donation to any of The Mayhew’s work, please visit : www.themayhew.org/donate or call 020 8206 5870

The Mayhew Animal Home, Trenmar Gardens, Kensal Green, London NW10 6BJ www.themayhew.org Join us on Facebook: themayhew Twitter: @TheMayhew Registered Charity No 1077588

Beautiful Millie is 9 years old and perfect for the job as she is very calm and loves attention! She will be delighting the residents at Brownlow Care Home in Muswell Hill.

“I would highly recommend TheraPaws to everyone within all care environments. The residents reminisce over old times when they had their own dogs. It is an amazing therapy” Carly Manners, Alan Morkill House