Can you imagine what it would be like to no longer receive the comfort and joy that your own pet brings you?

Every week PAT visiting teams help thousands of people in hospitals, care homes, hospices, prisons and schools, but since Coronavirus struck all PAT activities have been halted.

Pets As Therapy National Volunteer & Events Manager Matthew Robinson says:

Pets As Therapy (PAT) is a national charity founded in 1983. There are approximately 6000 active PAT visiting volunteer teams across the UK who would normally be visiting people in need of companion animal therapy. People who due to their circumstances cannot have access to a pet of their own.

When volunteers visit hospitals, it is not only the patients that receive this stress relief and escapism, it's also the front line staff; people who may have been witness to the most tragic and upsetting outcomes on a daily basis as "part of their job"

Care home residents who cannot keep a pet of their own but previously always had animals would normally be able to receive a visit from their PAT volunteer team but now the only contact they have is the staff that are caring for them

Pets As Therapy are determined to weather this storm and the only way is to keep the charity running and to respond to the limitations inflicted on us by lockdown in new and innovative ways... We are trialling virtual Read 2 Dog sessions for children that are isolated at home, the pilot sessions have proved highly successful, this could form the foundation for a similar service within care homes down the line

Thank you for your generous support from all at Pets As Therapy