Pets As Therapy is a national charity founded in 1983 by Lesley Scott-Ordish. Now like then, Pets As Therapy helps those in our communities most in need of animal companion therapy. Visiting volunteer teams and their behaviourally assessed PAT Dogs or Cats share the love of their own animal with people in hospitals, care homes, schools, prisons, day care centres and so many more establishments. The clients they visit benefit from the wonderful effect a companion animal brings, namely non-judgemental listening, tactile comfort & affection.

My wife Teresa and I have decided to run again and take on the 16 weeks of training and this time our focus is to help people to build their Mental Health and Wellbeing.

We are offering the community of Whimple where we live, the opportunity to join

us during the training and the final run on 26th April, by completing the Couch to 5K. Jet the Black Spaniel will be with us on part of the run to really publicise Pets as Therapy.

I take Jet the Dog into Exeter College every week so that the students and staff can drop by and just chat and stroke the dog. Many of Jet's fans tell me how much the time they spend with him really helps their day. Anxiety, stress and depression really is so common in all walks of society and we will probably all have times in our life when we just need that bit of support. A Pets as Therapy visit just gives that space and time to chat and helps students and staff alike face the rest of their day.

Please support us by donating if you can.