From 2017, a ten-year-old golden retirement, whose name is Pringle has found his own job. He gained his nickname as Friendship Dog due to the fact, that he brings happiness to elder people, who may be alone.
This all began, when The North East charity Wag and Company decided to send their volunteers and their dogs to elderly people to visit them regularly. Over 51000 retirees in the North East declare to be alone most of the time. Most of them like dogs very much, that couldn’t have their own dogs for personal affairs.
Wag and Company founded in 2015 is the only charity in the UK, that sends puppies to people’s homes.
Time, which is spent with older people is important for them, as they have lost their family members and became old, which makes it difficult for them to go out and meet other people.
This visits help more than three thousand people, with over seventy-nine thousand visits and 403 volunteers. The charity also works in Northern East of England.
Elsie, an 84-year-old woman from Newcastle is one of the most, who earns profit from the visits.
She wanted a visit from dog, because she missed her puppies, as she has been grown up with family dogs. Two volunteers, named Emma and Pringle accompanied it.
The old woman loves the puppy so much, that she even bought a food bowl and special snacks for her loved puppy.
Pringle’s owner, Emma takes pleasure from her visits to Elsie and always hurries happily towards her.
Elsie says, that she grew up with a puppy, that was like a sister for her and when she had two sons, she decided to let them grow up with a dog. She says, that it is very good to have a lovely friend.
Wag and Company also visited hospital and nursing houses. And this kind of visits have become so important for older people, who were isolated during Covid-19.
Because of such a difficult situation, the organisation is looking for more volunteers in Newcastle.
Potential service dogs and their owners went through a specific test to decide, in order to clarify, whether the dog would become a support animal. Volunteers only need to give an hour or two each week to make an important difference in someone’s life.
Diane explained, that their volunteers became friends very quickly. They give people so much to remember, a pet to love again and somebody to visit and share stories.
