“I took Ronnie to visit my dad in hospital, after being advised by staff that it was allowed as long as the dog was well behaved,” said Ms Shaw.
“Other patients and staff were really interested in stroking Ronnie and it put a smile on their faces, so I decided to enquire about visiting the hospital on a regular basis and what the correct channels would be to do so. This led me to the WAG training.”
Pictured: Interaction with therapy dogs has been shown to reduce blood pressure, provide physical stimulation and assist with pain management.
WAG Chair Marguerite Talmage said that potential volunteers undergo a thorough recruitment process with their dogs, including an induction about canine behaviour.
“Dogs are then assessed to make sure their temperament and behaviour are suitable for spending time with people in vulnerable situations,’ said Ms Talmage.
“Therapy dogs enrich the lives of many people in a variety of situations. WAG dogs and their owners visit many establishments, including wards at the hospital, residential homes and schools, where children who are hesitant to read aloud will happily read to a non-judgmental dog sitting at their feet.”
Pictured: Laura Shaw and Ronnie.
Ronnie undertook an assessment at Earlswood Garden Centre.
“WAG needed to see how Ronnie reacted to different environments and it was determined that he was best suited for visits to the elderly,” said Ms Shaw.
“Ronnie is very calm and enjoys being pampered.
“We both get so much from the visits and it is very rewarding to see the smiles and joy Ronnie brings to the elderly.
“It’s great to be able to do something for the community.”
For more information on therapy dogs, visit www.wag.org.gg, where there is also a welcome from Patron Harvey.
