THERAPET
Managed by Canine Concern Scotland Trust
Scottish Charity No: SC014924
"WE care for Dogs... and DOGS care for us!!"
News Paper Articles from around Scotland
Alex Ramsay age 5 with Dixie & Alfie
Picture supplied by Wilma Hutchison Group Leader of "1st & 2nd Auchterarder Rainbow Guides"
THERAPETS VISIT AUCHTERARDER RAINBOW GUIDES
On Tuesday night Therapet's Alfie (Boxer) and Dixie (Staffordshire Bull Terrier) along with their owner Harry Greig (Perthshire Area Representative for Canine Concern Scotland Trust) paid a visit to the Auchterarder Rainbow Guides. Harry spoke to the girls about the Therapet pet visiting service and also how important it was to be responsible dog owners. When asked questions about looking after their dogs Harry said he was very impressed by the knowledge of the girls whose ages ranged from 5 to 7 years old-it is so important to teach responsible dog ownership from an early age.
During the evening the group were able to participate in basic obedience exercises with Alfie and Dixie, and also enjoyed some fun time with the dogs doing their party tricks. One or two of the girls were a bit apprehensive around dogs but by the end of the evening were patting and stroking Alfie and Dixie and walking them on lead. Alongside pet visiting services the Trust can provide help to people young and old who may have developed a fear of dogs.
At the end of the meeting the girls presented Harry and his dogs with a card and some tasty treats plus a cheque for £20 as a donation to the Therapet Visiting Service. Group leader Wilma Hutchison and her daughter Rachel are now members of the Therapet pet visiting scheme and with their two dogs will shortly be commencing care home visits in the Auchterarder area .
BLESSING OF ANIMALS SERVICE ~ 2012
St. Francis of Assisi was made a saint of the Catholic Church in 1226 by Pope Gregory IX and his feast day is the 4th October. He is honoured on this day throughout the world and by all Christian denominations. St. Francis preached that the world and everything in it was created good and beautiful by God and that it is the duty of all creation to praise God and for men to protect and enjoy nature as both stewards of God’s creation and as creatures themselves.
The RSPCA first published a liturgy for the Blessing of Animals in 1975 and there may well have been others before then. This service was held for the first time in Irvine, Ayrshire on 6th October at St. Andrew’s Scottish Episcopal Church and 16 dogs and 1 guinea pig and their owners attended. Three Golden Retrievers, one Border Terrier and a Greyhound, all Therapet's, were among the congregation. Others were Border Collies, Lhasa Apsos and Labradors – don’t know the details of the guinea pig! They were all beautifully behaved and one Lhasa Apsos enjoyed the singing! A horse was planning to attend but it couldn’t get transport!
Everyone agreed it was a very good initiative in a relaxed and comfortable space where everyone could enjoy their pets and receive God’s blessing not just for their pets but also for themselves.
Refreshments for all God’s creatures were served after the service.
Service conducted by Lay Reader Linda Whitby of St. Andrew’s Scottish Episcopal Church.
Words by Linda Whitby, Area Representative for Ayrshire
Pictures by Michael Whitby
PET FRIENDLY
A care home in Dumfries has donated £500 to a charity with which it enjoys close links. Lochduhar general manager Wendy Carruthers presented a cheque to representatives of Therapet this week.
Therapet's member Brian McMeeken and his dog Poppy have been fortnightly visitors to the home for the last three years to give pet therapy to residents, who get the chance to pet the dog and chat about their own animals.
Wendy said: " The benefits of this to residents are great and this is why we have chosen to donate to the charity."
Article appeared in the Dumfries Courier on 5th October 2012.
Wendy Carruthers, Brian McMeeken and Therapet Poppy who is now 10 years old, Therapet Area Representative for Dumfries Maureen Hill and James Macdonald Trustee from Canine Concern Scotland Trust.
Clova and Therapet Volunteer Caroline
Pets Care Too
We are accustomed to the idea that if we have a pet, whether it’s a pony or a gerbil, we must look after it, feed it, clean out its cage, exercise it.
The idea that our pets help care for us – Guide Dogs for the Blind, Hearing Dogs for the Deaf, Riding for the Disabled, for instance – is the other side of the caring coin.
I was recently introduced to another service that dogs provide for us humans.Therapets is a visiting scheme run by the Canine Concern Scotland Trust which recruits volunteer dogs and their owners to visit children and people in homes, hospitals and hospices to provide comfort and cheer.
I accompanied Clova and owner Mrs Caroline Hippisley to Whitehills Hospital in Forfar to visit some of the senior patients in Clova and Isla wards.
Clova is a Labradoodle a cross Labrador and Standard Poodle and is a regular visitor there. Welcomed by staff and patients and clearly quite at home in this caring environment, Clova led the way. There were old friends looking out for her and new patients who welcomed a cherry tail-wagging visit.
These visits can be very calming for patients and it’s known that just stroking a dog can help reduce blood pressure. Time in hospital can be disorientating and long-term patients in particular can feel isolated. Clova, breezing into their room and allowing herself to be stroked and petted helps keep them engaged with the ordinary world outside, especially if they have left pets of their own at home.
This article is an extract from the “The Courier & Advertiser” Dundee, written by Angus Whitson “MAN WITH TWO DOGS”.
Article appeared in the Courier & Advertiser on the 16th June 2012.
Picture attached Clova and Caroline