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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 4/24/2013 Posts: 703 Location: Hexham
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Good news, entirely unrelated to RA. Our retired guide dog Bengie has just been accepted by Pets As Therapy to do hospital / care home / special school visits to give, for example, some time to people who may have had to gove up their pets on entering care. www.petsastherapy.org The idea is that he visits periodically but frequently. He's such a big softie that everyone will love him. To start with I have reached out to a special needs school in Hexham, and they seem keen. Let's see how it goes Paul Barrett
Hexham - Northumberland - Loads of spectacular walks - all I need now are the joints to go with them! :)
Enthesitis (2012)
Ulcerative Colitis (1990)
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Rank: Advanced Member
Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/3/2009
Posts: 302
Location: Rainham Kent
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Well done. What a lovely thought. Anne
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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 8/25/2010 Posts: 1,289 Location: Buckinghamshire
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that's a lovely thing to do Paul,
hope it all works out well, do keep us posted.
Suzanne
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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 10/25/2013 Posts: 83 Location: warwick
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good for Benji I am a vet nurse and see the wonderful bond between people and their pets and it is heartbreaking when they can no longer have a pet. just have my cat now after many assorted animals and might sound silly to non pet people but he really is a comfort especially in the middle of the night when it feels like you're the only person awake in the world ! pets as therapy do a great job. be lovely to hear your stories. 
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Rank: Advanced Member Groups: Registered
Joined: 4/24/2013 Posts: 703 Location: Hexham
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So far, so good. The special needs school is definitely interested. I'll post updates as and when events unfold. Paul Barrett
Hexham - Northumberland - Loads of spectacular walks - all I need now are the joints to go with them! :)
Enthesitis (2012)
Ulcerative Colitis (1990)
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Rank: Advanced Member Groups: Registered
Joined: 4/24/2013 Posts: 703 Location: Hexham
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Well, last Thursday Bengie and I went along to the special school for a two-way introduction. We went on a tour of the classrooms and Bengie was star. He stood there calmly, with his tail wagging gently, while kids of all ages and abilities gathered round to stroke, pat or cuddle him. And a few who get really close were treated to a labrador kiss. The upshot is we will start regular sessions next term (Jan 2014). Looking forward to it. Paul Barrett
Hexham - Northumberland - Loads of spectacular walks - all I need now are the joints to go with them! :)
Enthesitis (2012)
Ulcerative Colitis (1990)
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Rank: Advanced Member
Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/3/2009
Posts: 302
Location: Rainham Kent
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You must feel very proud. Well done Bengie
Anne
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Rank: Advanced Member Groups: Registered
Joined: 4/24/2013 Posts: 703 Location: Hexham
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Quite excited here. Tomorrow is Bengie's first PAT day at the local special school and we have 13 pupils lined up to spend some time with him! I'll post an update to let you know how it goes. Paul Barrett
Hexham - Northumberland - Loads of spectacular walks - all I need now are the joints to go with them! :)
Enthesitis (2012)
Ulcerative Colitis (1990)
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Rank: Advanced Member Groups: Registered
Joined: 8/25/2010 Posts: 1,289 Location: Buckinghamshire
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hope Bengie and Pupils enjoy their day together 
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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 3/29/2013 Posts: 106 Location: Surrey
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That's so sweet, hope they all gave a lovely day together
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Rank: Advanced Member Groups: Registered
Joined: 3/29/2013 Posts: 106 Location: Surrey
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Rank: Advanced Member Groups: Registered
Joined: 4/24/2013 Posts: 703 Location: Hexham
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Well Bengie was a complete star at Hexham Priory School today. We saw lots of children of all ages and abilities and the children loved him. Some of the staff were besides themselves too. He was very calm throughout whether it was in response to kids visiting him in his 'office', or walking along the corridor being led by one of them, on his way to meet the most profoundly handicapped in their special classroom. The last pair of children of the day seemed to form an especial bond. By the time we finished Bengie was so relaxed he was lying on his back with his feet in the air. A very definite success which we hope to match next week on our 2nd visit Paul Barrett
Hexham - Northumberland - Loads of spectacular walks - all I need now are the joints to go with them! :)
Enthesitis (2012)
Ulcerative Colitis (1990)
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Rank: Advanced Member
Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/3/2009
Posts: 302
Location: Rainham Kent
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Great news. Hope it carries on like this. Anne
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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 9/5/2010 Posts: 185 Location: Lowestoft, Suffolk
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Fabulous Bengie! And good on you for actually doing it. I hope you can manage to keep a bit of a blog going on this as it is so lovely and cheering to read. It sounds like he really helps the children and is quite happy to do so. More Bengie exploits please.  Angie Be yourself - everyone else is taken. XX
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Rank: Advanced Member Groups: Registered
Joined: 4/24/2013 Posts: 703 Location: Hexham
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One of the children he saw yesterday was a girl who although able to talk had tendency not to. The teacher said that she spoke more to Bengie in 15 minutes than she usually did in a day. This is one of the amazing things about Pet Therapy - it somehow makes it easier for people to engage. Perhaps it's because a dog is so trusting and non judgemental. One of the other things that PAT dogs do is a Read 2 Dog scheme in which hesitant readers read their books to the dog rather than to a person, and this too can be hugely beneficial. Let's see, what other stories from yesterday.Well there was one little Downs Syndrome boy who gave Bengie a hug around the neck and got a lick for a reward. Far from putting him off he kept offering up different parts of his head and neck for a wash. I said to the teacher that an after-session wash might be in order. Some of the most touching reactions actually came from the special care group - the most profoundly handicapped. To see their faces light up as they were guided to touch Bengie was wonderful. One girl who had no sight actually sniffed and before we could stop her, licked Bengie as part of her usual sensory activities. It was in that classroom that one of the staff (who were generally beside themselves) got so excited that she was awarded a PAT Dog sticker!! We walked from Bengie's 'office' (the Library) to one of the classrooms with one little boy holding the lead. If you could have seen his face....... It got a great reaction from the staff we passed too. Paul Barrett
Hexham - Northumberland - Loads of spectacular walks - all I need now are the joints to go with them! :)
Enthesitis (2012)
Ulcerative Colitis (1990)
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Rank: Advanced Member Groups: Registered
Joined: 4/24/2013 Posts: 703 Location: Hexham
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I almost forgot. I took Bengie's grooming brush along so the kids could groom him if they wanted. Quite a few did and it's the sort of repetitive action that some types of special children find very comforting, hence therapeutic. Although, one boy grabbed the brush and proceeded to brush his own hair. Oops! Paul Barrett
Hexham - Northumberland - Loads of spectacular walks - all I need now are the joints to go with them! :)
Enthesitis (2012)
Ulcerative Colitis (1990)
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Rank: Advanced Member Groups: Registered
Joined: 4/24/2013 Posts: 703 Location: Hexham
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Well the school must have thought it was a success as they have put some pics up on their web site. I don't know how long they will be up so if you want to take a look you need to do so soon http://www.hexhamprioryschool.co.uk/?q=content/recent-eventsPaul Barrett
Hexham - Northumberland - Loads of spectacular walks - all I need now are the joints to go with them! :)
Enthesitis (2012)
Ulcerative Colitis (1990)
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Rank: Advanced Member Groups: Registered
Joined: 8/25/2010 Posts: 1,289 Location: Buckinghamshire
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awww lovely piccies,
and Bengie is lovely :)
thanks for posting,
Suzanne
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Rank: Advanced Member Groups: Registered
Joined: 9/5/2010 Posts: 185 Location: Lowestoft, Suffolk
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Damn - I can't get them. It says server unreachable. So disappointed!  Be yourself - everyone else is taken. XX
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Rank: Advanced Member Groups: Registered
Joined: 4/24/2013 Posts: 703 Location: Hexham
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Angiecha wrote:Damn - I can't get them. It says server unreachable. So disappointed! Hm,... it seems to be OK at the moment. try again? Paul Barrett
Hexham - Northumberland - Loads of spectacular walks - all I need now are the joints to go with them! :)
Enthesitis (2012)
Ulcerative Colitis (1990)
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