Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust is looking for dogs and cats that can use their furry charms to put a smile on the faces of service users in its mental health wards.
Contact with an animal is especially beneficial for people with mental health problems and can alleviate depression and give them something to look forward to.
Volunteering a pet is also therapeutic for the pet and their owner as they are rewarded with smiles and appreciation from staff and service users.
To take part in the scheme, volunteers and their feline friends and canine companions need to be registered with the Pets As Therapy (PAT) charity.
The process involves completing an application form, providing two character references, a copy of the pet’s vaccination certificate and having the dog or cat’s temperament assessed to check they are sociable and friendly, calm and gentle when being stroked and not fearful of new stimuli.
Owners must register as a volunteer with Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust and have had their pets for at least six months before applying and dogs and cats must be a minimum of nine months old.
There is also an annual subscription fee of £19 (£29 for a joint subscription) which also provides a card sticker and a voucher towards the cost of a volunteer’s polo shirt or a Pets As Therapy jacket for a PAT dog.
For more information about how you and your pet can really make a difference, call voluntary service manager Pene Kenrick-Ward on 01603 421580 or email [email protected]
