Care homes across Britain opened their doors last month and invited the public to see the excellent work they do and some were lucky enough to be greeted by a TheraPaws dog. Teams of our TheraPaws volunteers went out across London sharing their four-legged-friends with residents and their families.

When a lady was introduced to Shadow she started smiling and her sister commented that she hadn’t seen her that happy in a while.

At another care home, residents were singing along to the music and one lady decided to serenade Bruno, who along with Sid, had a great time listening to the beat. Their families also remarked how wonderful it was for the residents to have such contact with animals as they are no longer able to have pets themselves.

Volunteers and their dogs regularly visit many care homes and special outreach events to offer much needed support to people with dementia and their relatives. They also help people in palliative care units by easing their suffering and bringing smiles to everyone’s faces.

If you would like to get involved, check out our TheraPaws volunteer opportunities here: www.themayhew.org/therapaws