Friends of the Hound Pets as Therapy Program

We are delighted to tell you about our Pets as Therapy Program. It provides a trained volunteer and retired Greyhound to visit people to bring fun, joy, physical, social and mental stimulation. We are available to visit: hospitals, rehabilitation centres, nursing homes, assisted care living, carers groups - you name it!

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS?

Research overwhelmingly shows that regular contact with a friendly pet gives physical, psychological, physiological and emotional benefits and generally raises morale.

The benefits from interaction with a friendly pet are many and include: lowering of blood pressure, physiotherapy type actions (patting, stroking, brushing, bending, feeding, walking, etc) plus the alleviation of loneliness and the opportunity for people to express affection with a furry friend, with a kiss and cuddle.

 

WHO ARE OUR PET VOLUNTEERS?

Our 'pet' volunteers are retired or rejected racing greyhounds that have found new homes through Friends of the Hound Inc.

They are assessed for healthiness, friendliness, temperament and obedience by a veterinarian, and trained for working gently and safely as a pet visitor in a health care facility.

Pet volunteers remain on a leash, unless otherwise arranged for therapeutic reasons.

      

 

GREYHOUNDS AS PETS AS THERAPY DOGS

Greyhounds are perfect therapy dogs due to their outgoing and friendly nature, gentle and docile disposition, and quiet manner. Their tall stature makes them easily accessible to the bedridden and people in wheelchairs.

Greyhounds are very popular as Pets as Therapy dogs in both the United Kingdom and the United States of America . We hope to start a trend here too!

Did you know:

•  Greyhounds were used as therapy dogs immediately after 9/11 to provide comfort to the many rescue workers and the many families waiting to hear news regarding their loved ones near Ground Zero. 

•  Greyhounds are used in a number of reading programs with young children. Children who are not confident readers "read" to the greyhounds and with the assistance of the handler "explain" the story to the greyhound. These programs have proved very successful in the United States.

Story Dogs is such a program now operating in the Tweed and "Sammy", the rehomed ex-racer, is one of the dogs that happily visits local primary schools.

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WHAT DOES A PAT VISIT INVOLVE?

We can tailor a program to meet your needs, but generally visits can involve:

 

 

WHAT ARE OUR FEES?

We are a self-funded program run by volunteers. We ask for our service fee to be paid in advance where possible. Our fee is $30.00 per visit. This fee contributes towards the running costs of this program, in particular public liability insurance.

If you are considering joining our program, we will send a representative to meet you to discuss the full details of how the program works and what you wish to achieve from it.

WANT TO KNOW MORE?

Email us

 

Kane getting used to interacting with people using walking frames.