WHO IS SUSSEX CARING PETS?
Sussex Caring Pets is a group of volunteers who take their own pets to visit schools, residential care homes, hospices as well as hospitals. We are a not-for-profit organisation and all our therapy dogs are temperament assessed. Anyone over 18 can be a supporter, but a visiting volunteer needs to be the pet's main care-provider as well. All animals brought to us for assessment must be at least 9 months old, vaccinated and living as a domestic pet. The work involves a lot of responsibility and commitment.
DOES A THERAPY DOG NEED ANY SPECIAL TRAINING?
Basic obedience is important. All our therapy dogs are domestic pets who display a temperament which we think makes them suitable to meet people often unused to interacting with animals. Their temperament will be determined by a trained assessor who will observe the dog and carry out a few non-distressing tests to assess his/her suitability.
HOW OFTEN DO THE VOLUNTEERS VISIT?
This depends on the volunteer’s availability and the needs of those being visited. It may be weekly, fortnightly or monthly depending on the agreement between the volunteer and the hospital.
HOW LONG DOES A VISIT USUALLY LAST?
Generally, our therapy dogs and cats are quite content for up to an hour.
WHAT PROOF OF IDENTITY DO VOLUNTEERS HAVE?
All our volunteers wear an ID tag with a picture of their cat/dog on the back and usually a printed t-shirt which is only available to registered members through SCP. If you have any doubts at all about a visiting volunteer’s authenticity please do call us to check this person’s identity. ALL of our volunteers are checked, have to provide references and are interviewed whilst their cat/dog is being assessed. We fully comply with the Data Protection Act and the volunteers’ personal contact details (to make visiting arrangements) can only be obtained directly from the volunteer.
ARE THE ANIMALS ALLOWED TO BE OFF LEAD?
All our therapy dogs must be under close control at all times and always work on their leads.
ARE THE DOGS TRAINED?
No, our dogs are not specifically trained but must be basically obedient, gentle and want to be with people. Many are specifically trained do other things such as water rescue, obedience work and even as a gundog. Quite a few are show dogs as well, competing at both local and national level.
CAN PATIENTS GIVE THE DOG TIDBITS?
Yes, but we recommend that they are instructed to place the treat on the floor rather than allowing the animal to take it directly from their hand. Also, the volunteer may request that only treats provided by them be used in order that the animals’ diets are not too disrupted by the additional food. Our volunteers carry anti-bacterial hand gel which they will offer to people who have stroked or given treats to the dog.
WHAT DO THE VISITS BRING TO PEOPLE?
Terry, one of our loyal and hard working volunteers, has for some time been taking his therapy dog, Sparkie, a 9-year-old Sheep Dog, to meet patients in the stroke unit of The Royal Sussex County Hospital, Brighton. Only last week while on the stroke unit with Sparkie, one patient's son said it was the first time that he had seen his mother smile since she was admitted, a reward in itself.
“In small ways, SCP therapy dogs and cats bring gentle companionship to the patients and staff alike” says Terry.
“Sometimes it is hard to leave the staffroom as nurses and doctors take time out to stroke and talk to Sparkie. I think I'm just Sparkie's enabler as he is always and quite rightly the star on the wards!”
Look out for our volunteers and their therapy dogs in bright green ID coats throughout the Trust.
If you would like further information on our work, or think your dog or cat may have the temperament to be a therapy animal then click on www.sussexcaringpets.org or email sussecaringpets@btinternet.com
Or phone 07818743762/07551071268
