At Sherwood House in Duncan BC, we value the joy and love that pets bring into our lives. As we age, it is more difficult to take care of pets of our own, but we still want our residents to be able to connect and spend time with our furry friends. This is why we schedule an ongoing Dog Therapy program for the residents of our community. These Pet therapy sessions are not only fun, but are also beneficial to our residents’ health and wellbeing. 

Benefits of Pet Therapy 

Pet therapy is a great form of compassionate care that has been popularized over the years, primarily on school campuses and across communities. The research on pet therapy’s effect on our aging population is remarkable. Pet therapy has been shown to decrease stress and anxiety.  By providing connection and comfort through animals, pet therapy is extremely beneficial for feelings of stress and anxiety. Some studies even show positive results on mental functioning through pet therapy. Playing with animals is also a fun way to increase mobility as we age. 

Our Dog Therapy Program 

Our Dog Therapy program has been a big hit in our tight-knit community. Every Friday morning, residents are invited to come to play with our Saint John’s Ambulance Therapy Dog. She is a lovely Labrador, Border Collie mix who absolutely loves people and greets everyone as they walk by. Her friendly and calm demeanour never fails to put a smile on residents’ faces. Our amazing activity coordinator, Ardelle decided to combine dog therapy with a friendship circle group to create an engaging activity for everyone. Residents enjoy a cup of coffee while they chat and enjoy visiting time with the dog.

 After so many years of Covid isolation, socialization is more important than ever, and we value the need for connectedness. We love this activity so much and look forward to carrying on the fun!