Pippin the Therapy Dog

08/06/2025

Day 7 of Volunteers Week.

“To ease another’s heartache is to forget one’s own.” Abraham Lincoln

07/06/2025

Day 6 of Volunteers Week.

“The smallest act of kindness is worth more than the grandest intention.” Oscar Wilde

06/06/2025

Day 5 of Volunteers Week.

“The quality of your life will be determined by the quality of your contribution. When you work to improve the lives of others, your life improves automatically.” Kurek Ashley

05/06/2025

Me and my pals 🐶 🐾 ♥️

At Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust our Pets as Therapy Volunteers are a source of comfort and joy!

These incredible therapy animals with their dedicated Volunteer owners, bring warmth, companionship, and healing to patients, visitors and staff alike.

We are incredibly fortunate to have the support of 12 therapy dogs and 7 miniature ponies, each playing a vital role in spreading happiness at GWH.

Therapy animals offer emotional and physical benefits to people in hospitals, care homes, schools, and beyond.

Their presence isn't just heartwarming, it’s backed by science:
• A University of Derby study found that interacting with therapy dogs can boost mood by 55%.
• Care homes, schools, and mental health facilities across the UK widely use therapy pets to provide comfort and companionship.
• Research from the University of Birmingham highlights the crucial role therapy animals play in supporting mental health and emotional well-being.
• Just 10 minutes of interaction with a therapy pet can lower stress hormones like cortisol and boost serotonin, enhancing overall mood.
• Patients with dementia often experience improved memory recall and emotional engagement when interacting with therapy animals.
• Children with autism and ADHD develop social skills, self-esteem, and emotional intelligence through therapy pet interactions.
• Therapy pets can even reduce the need for pain medication and improve recovery rates in hospitals and rehabilitation centres.

Why These Visits Matter:
• Imagine the smile on a patient’s face when they encounter a friendly dog or a pony.
• For those facing illness, loneliness, or stress, a visit from a therapy animal provides a moment of peace, a spark of joy, and a reminder that they are not alone.
• Therapy pets don’t just offer comfort—they enhance recovery, improve mood, and even stimulate brain activity in patients with a minimally conscious state.

We’re always looking to grow our furry family, so if you believe in the power of 'paw-sitive' healing, why not come and spend time with your animal in support of our patients, visitors and staff? If you are interested in becoming a Pets As Therapy Volunteer, please contact us to find out more information.

05/06/2025

♥️ 🐾 ♥️

05/06/2025

Day 4 of Volunteers Week.

“There is no better exercise for your heart than reaching down and helping to lift someone up.” Bernard Meltzer

04/06/2025

I’m a Pets As Therapy doggie at Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust - Mummy & I spent a day filming with woman&home magazine and NHS Charities Together for Volunteers' Week 🐾 ♥️

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04/06/2025

Day 3 of Volunteers Week.

“Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around.” – Leo Buscaglia.

03/06/2025

Day 2 of Volunteers Week.

“Dogs are the most amazing creatures; they give unconditional love.” – Gilda Radner

02/06/2025

Day 1 of Volunteers Week.

“As you grow older, you will discover that you have two hands — one for helping yourself, the other for helping others.” — Audrey Hepburn

14/05/2025

A full days filming for at .nhs and I’m totally pooped 💤
It’s a hard life being a therapy dog, it’s not all fuss and treats you know 🎥 📷 🐾 🐶

11/04/2025

Me and my pals 🐾 🐾 having a work meeting 🐶

Our therapy dogs are totally paw-some. They bring love, comfort, security and positivity during what can be a distressing and scary time.

That's why they are our heroes fur-ever. Join us in raising the woof for our therapy pets.

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