PAT
organises therapeutic visits by pet owners who volunteer to take their
pets (mainly dogs) to visit people in hospitals, hospices, retirement
homes, frail care facilities, special needs schools residential centres,
and a variety of other venues. PAT visits bring company, support,
comfort, pleasure, stress relief and stimulation to those living either
permanently or temporarily in these and other establishments.
There
is a fortune of scientific evidence showing that the interaction between
people and pets is therapeutic – physically, emotionally,
psychologically and socially.
Visiting
with animals can help people feel less lonely, and less depressed.
Visits from pets can provide a welcome change from routine, or the
renewal of old friendships. People become more active and responsive
both during and after visiting with animals.
An
animal visit can offer entertainment or a welcome distraction from pain
and infirmity. People often talk to the visiting pets, and share with
them their thoughts and feelings and memories. Animal visits provide
something to look forward to. Stroking a dog or cat can reduce a
person's blood pressure, and petting encourages use of hands and arms,
stretching and turning.
An animal visit can offer entertainment or a welcome
distraction from pain and infirmity. People often talk to the visiting
pets, and share with them their thoughts and feelings and memories.
Animal visits provide something to look forward to. Stroking a dog or
cat can reduce a person's blood pressure, and petting encourages use of
hands and arms, stretching and turning.
Most owners really love their pets and get so much pleasure from this
relationship. Some feel that they want to share the joy and love of
their animal companions with others. PAT’s role is to help facilitate
this process. Sometimes, it’s really hard to phone an institution and
say that you want to visit. There are also a whole range of issues
that need to be considered such as:
