I have been in contact with PAT since doing some charity work at a local housing shelter and wanted to find out more.

We have the application pack and I am planning once we have moved house to start the process to get Millie assessed and go from there.

I was concerned as I work Mon-Fri 9-5 but the lady at the head office says this isnt a problem as plenty of visits / volunteer work can be in evenings or weekends.

Just wandered if anyone else volunteers through PAT, the types of places they visit, how they found it and how regularly they visit? How did you find the assessment? (I have looked through the forms and it seems quite simple ie not pulling on lead, not greeting by jumping, confident with strange noises etc etc).

Its something I believe could be really rewarding for me and Millie even if we can only give 2 - 3 hours a month - Would love to hear if anyone else has experience of this.

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Not done it but im interested in doing it too, my matron at work thiinks it would be a good idea to have stan as a pat dog.

Michelle

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DEED NOT BREED BSL SPAWNED OUT OF IGNORANCE AND FEAR.

Owned by
Dogs:
Stanlie SBT
hooch SBT
Tara Colliex

Cats
Tango

Rabbits
Lily
Rose
Oscar

Ohh if you do let me know how you get on.

The more I keep reading the form I keep getting more excited - I know Millie is calm and confident enough for it. My primary worry was not being able to give them enough but I think I need to stop worrying about that get her registered and see what opportunities are in our local area.

Would love to meet Stanley one day - Shel has shown me plenty of piccies of him he is gorgeous

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I will, and if/when you go for it you will have too let me know how you get on.

Would be lovely to meet you and millie, would be nice to meet with shell n mazie dazie too at the same time maybe even frankie n tara lol

Michelle x

__________________
DEED NOT BREED BSL SPAWNED OUT OF IGNORANCE AND FEAR.

Owned by
Dogs:
Stanlie SBT
hooch SBT
Tara Colliex

Cats
Tango

Rabbits
Lily
Rose
Oscar

I'd really like to do PAT adwell with Conan, but think I will leave it a while as he's only 14 months old. When my mum had her cancer op, he was so gentle with her, laid on the floor infront of the sofa when she was downstairs, followed her everywhere when she got up. She said it made her feel so much better and happier.

Hi, Honey is now a registered P.A.T dog. We applied last September. She did really well with her assessment and we were thrilled she passed. Both my OH and myself did the assessment. The only thing I would say is the whole process took a while, until December but this was mainly due to problems with one of our referees not returning forms. We applied for Southend Hospital at the beginning of January but again this took some time to go through due to another set of CRB checks and references and admin delays. She became a hospital P.A.T dog in April.

All I can say is she loves it, takes it all in her stride and is so good when she is visiting. She is there for around 2 hours but has short breaks every half hour so she could relax and drink outside. She repeatedly indicates she wants to go back to the ward after these. Our only concern is the heat in the hospital so we have to monitor her closely. She visits the Orthopedic ward, a medical ward and started to visit the Stroke Unit. It is very apparent the difference she makes to the patients, their visitors and the staff. Some of the situations she has been put in, like going alongside patients beds with drips and other tubing have been a bit nerve wracking for me but I'm absolutely sure she knows and she has been so, so calm. She even reverses if she cant turn round.

The only snag we've had was she ripped a claw out in June, which then got infected so she has been on "sick leave" since to allow the claw time to grow again. She will be returning to the hospital next week after representing Pets As Therapy at the local carnival dog show at the weekend with the other P.A.T dogs.

I can only say it is a thoroughly worthwhile cause and if your dog is suitable and calm and you have the time, then I would absolutely recommend it. If I can help further please let me know.

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HONEY - GOLDEN RETRIEVER X WHITE GSD - 2006 -

Sending love to our beloved ones now playing together over the rainbow bridge.

ZAC - Black GSD - 1978 to 1991
TARA - Black and Tan GSD - 1981 to 1995
AMBER - Pomeranian - 1986 to 2001
BOBBY - Maltese - 1989 to 2007
SHEENA - Maltese - 1990 to 2005
JASON - Maltese - 1990 to 2005
LILLITH - Maltese - 1992 to 2003

Thank you Michelle :-)

Itl be 3 weeks before I ring to try arrange the assessment as we are moving house but I will keep you up to date. Im not in Norfolk to much with Millie (Only place where Millie can stay is my dads and she has to stay in the garage lol ) but would love to meet Stan, Frankie and of course Maizie Daisy again :-) We had Maizie stay when my sis was on honeymoon - Had fab time with her and Millie.


Millie is now 2 years 4 months and the last 3-4 months she has matured so much (In a good way :-)) Thats fantastic to hear about how Conan helped your mum - I hope your mum is now well x x

Thank You Honeybee -

I will be careful whom I choose for referees - I am really excited after reading about your experience.

Its amazing how they take it in their stride and Honey sounds like she does a grand job!!

In terms of helping to identify visits / prroviding support when you first start was PAT really helpful? I found it a little scary as you cannot take anyone with you who isnt a PAT volunteer, it must be quite scary when you first start but one thing I am great at is talking about my girly so im sure that will help hehe.

If you dont mind me asking how much time a month do you give?

I am really excited about this - Once we have moved and I definately will have more spare time I will be trying to arrange for an assessment It sounds so rewarding

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I'm so glad its helped you. Thanks, I am thrilled with Honey as she was rescued and has had a far amount of issues to get over.

You are allocated an area co-ordinator who you can contact for help and advice or you can always contact the head office. The ladies there are lovely and all too pleased to assist. As I said you can always contact me too.

Your co-oridinator can arrange for you to shadow another volunteer or even go with you on your first visit. Its not too bad at all really and you soon get use to it. Each time we go there are different staff on the wards so I rarely see the same people but they all love seeing Honey so there is no problem.

When we were going we went once or twice a week for around 2 hours but as it is the hospital I can vary which days I do and also evenings and weekends. It works out to between 8 and 16 hours a month but I'm not working and my husband does some of this too. We are limited a little with the weather too as I dont take her if its raining (wet dog in hospital is not good ) and if its very hot.

I am really looking forward to getting her back to her visiting. Its great for Honey as she needs to be doing something mentally challenging. Your right it really is rewarding. I hope your move goes well and you can get your assessment done soon. x

__________________
HONEY - GOLDEN RETRIEVER X WHITE GSD - 2006 -

Sending love to our beloved ones now playing together over the rainbow bridge.

ZAC - Black GSD - 1978 to 1991
TARA - Black and Tan GSD - 1981 to 1995
AMBER - Pomeranian - 1986 to 2001
BOBBY - Maltese - 1989 to 2007
SHEENA - Maltese - 1990 to 2005
JASON - Maltese - 1990 to 2005
LILLITH - Maltese - 1992 to 2003

Charlie's not a PAT dog, but the residents at the elderly peoples home I work in love him.

He gets to eat all their biscuit crumbs and dinner left over on the floor, they give him treats, they give him fuss!

I take him in on my days off/afternoons after work and let him off lead to have a sniff, once he's cleaned the floor, he will happily climb into a residents lap and doze off

They really liven up with Charlie about, we even have a big photo board of him and the residents together in the lobby, he is an actual celebrity amongst the residents! I'm just his taxi driver and stylist...well he does need a new bandanna for each visit.

xxx

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