Dogs have a way of brightening up a room as soon as they walk in. You’ll know the joy you get from seeing that wagging tail. Our residents are just the same; many were dog owners and are dog lovers still loving nothing better than a cuddle from a furry friend. This is where our Pets As Therapy Dog Volunteer Handlers come in.

Louise joined us as a Volunteer in February with her dog Lix and now volunteers in two of our care homes.  She tells us a bit about what she enjoys about her volunteering and why she thinks Pets As Therapy Dogs are important visitors to care homes.

Tell us as bit about you. 

I have worked in healthcare for 15+ years, much of which was at the Great Western Hospital in Swindon in various managerial roles. 

My main hobby is dancing and I'm a qualified teacher in safe dancing practice for Oriental Dance, and I teach Egyptian belly dancing twice a week in Cricklade and Malmesbury.

In my professional life, I am also a qualified coach and mentor with the Institute of Leadership and Management, and the listening and communication skills that you use in coaching or mentoring someone are valuable when talking to residents.

What motivated you to become a volunteer at OSJCT?

My niece is a Carer at an OSJCT care home and thought Lix would make a great PAT dog due to her loving and friendly character, so I thought it would be a lovely thing to do together and would be stimulating for us both.

What skills and experiences have you gained through your volunteering?

Patience and humility. It is very easy to make assumptions about people based on who they are now and forget who they were. Volunteering and spending time with people enables me to build up a more holistic picture. I also believe strongly in giving back to  community and this is a nice way to do it.

What would you say to someone who was thinking about volunteering with OSJCT?

If you have the time, it's a rewarding way to spend an hour or so. Volunteering gives an insight into the care of older people or those living with chronic or life-limiting conditions. It’s humbling to hear the residents' stories of their lives, and rewarding to see how they enjoy your visit.

What is your favourite thing about volunteering with OSJCT?

The most pleasurable aspect is seeing the joy a dog can bring to people, even if she's mostly fixated with any food that's on the floor!  For some residents it can trigger memories of former pets and you can see many take great comfort in that, and the few moments of cuddles or strokes they get seems to bring them a lot of pleasure.

This Volunteers’ Week we’re celebrating Louise and Lix, and all our volunteers, for the incredible contribution which they make to the lives of those that live with us.

If you’re looking for something rewarding and fun to do in your spare time, why not join Louise and our hundreds of volunteers who give their time and lend us their skills? With a variety of volunteer roles, we’re bound to have something to suit your interests.  

You can search and apply for a role near you today or if you’d like to speak to someone first contact our Volunteering Team at volunteer@osjct.co.uk.