Plenty of New Pet Pals

Animal-assisted therapy is well known for its benefits. It can help reduce anxiety and loneliness, encourage conversation, and support memory and engagement. This week, we were pleased to welcome Petpals back to our home and see those benefits in action.

The Return of Nala

Becks, who runs PetPals Therapy, arrived with a mix of familiar and new animals. She was joined by her canine co-therapist, Nala. Some residents may remember Nala from her previous visit at four months old. Now seven months old, she is still full of energy, but her development and training were clearly evident.

Nala waited patiently for her turn to see residents, showing just how well she has been trained despite her young age. When it was her turn, she used a small stool to help her stand at a comfortable height, allowing her to get closer for gentle cuddles and interaction. She moved calmly from person to person, settling beside each resident in turn.

Meeting Blackthorn and Hawthorn the Lambs

Becks also brought along two lambs, Blackthorn and Hawthorn, who quickly became the focus of attention. Residents enjoyed bottle-feeding them, which led to plenty of conversation and engagement.

It was also a chance to learn something new. Lambs don’t have top front teeth. Instead, they have a firm dental pad on the top and a row of teeth on the bottom. This allows them to grip and tear grass by pressing it between their lower teeth and the dental pad. At the back of their mouths, they have strong molars that grind the grass down, helping with digestion.

Gentle Moments with Baby Chicks

Residents also had the opportunity to hold baby chicks. This quieter, hands-on activity created a calm and focused atmosphere and provided a simple form of sensory stimulation that many residents found comforting.

A Visit Full of Engagement and Interaction

The visit offered a thoughtful mix of animal interaction, learning, and gentle sensory activity. It encouraged conversation, participation, and connection throughout.

We look forward to welcoming Petpals back again soon.

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