Meet the team: Pets As Therapy
Pets As Therapy (PAT) is the official Staff Festival 2018 charity voted for by staff. Meet the volunteers and their dogs.
PAT volunteers, Natalie (left) and Rachel (right), often visit the Leeds University Union with their dogs
PAT is a humanitarian charity with volunteers and their pets visiting residential homes, hospitals, hospices, schools, day care centres and prisons. Their aim is to bring joy, comfort and companionship to individuals who appreciate being able to touch and stroke a friendly animal.
This charity was nominated by Rachel Robinson, a member of the Engineering department who volunteers with her Labrador Retriever, Pepper. She says: “I joined because I like the idea that you can volunteer your own time and your pet and the fact that it brings so much wellbeing and happiness to somebody’s day. It makes me feel good so I’d like to make somebody else feel good.”
Natalie Best has been volunteering with her Bedlington Terrier, Noodle, for four years: “This is the most rewarding thing I’ve ever done. When you go visit somebody and they don’t speak at all, but then they stroke your dog and their face lights up, it’s the best thing ever.”
These free pet therapy sessions run between 12.30 - 1.30pm in the LUU most Thursdays. Visit the Union website to stay updated.
All breeds of cats and dogs can become part of a PAT team. If you’re interested in volunteering with your pet, visit petsastherapy.org./join-us
The Staff Festival takes place on Friday 6 July, with this year’s theme being a ‘Festival of Making’.
All University staff, family and friends are invited to join us on campus for an afternoon of food and drink, workshops, and live performances.
Find more details on
the Staff Festival
website.