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Volunteers’ Week 2025: Sue’s story

It's Volunteers' Week and at Pets As Therapy we're celebration the dedication and support of all our volunteers, including visiting PAT Volunteers, VACs, Assessors and Trustees.

Sue Gwyn from South Wales is a visiting volunteer, along with her husband, and also is an Assessor and Trustee for the charity.

Tell us more about your roles at PAT
I joined PAT in 2020 as a volunteer, with my dog Lyra, and then became a Trustee in 2022. My husband and I both volunteer. We have a St. Bernard and Great Dane and visit two intensive care units and an older person’s mental health ward. We have also trained as Assessors, so we can assess new dogs whose owners have applied to volunteer. 

What does volunteering with PAT mean to you?
I often think I enjoy volunteering as much as, or even more than, the people we visit! It’s lovely to see people’s faces light up when they see the dogs. They often reminisce about dogs they have owned. 

People often seem happier when a dog is there and staff remark that sometimes a patient will do something they haven’t done before, such as talk and engage more, or being more awake.

Volunteering gives me a purpose and an opportunity to meet people, who are always appreciative of the visit. 

Would you recommend volunteering to others?
Yes. Our dogs certainly love volunteering. They get really excited when they see us get their coats out – probably in anticipation of the fuss and treats they know they'll receive.

Most pet owners thoroughly enjoy people petting and admiring their dog and talking about them and their individual personalities. 

 

We are always looking to recruit more volunteers.

You can find more info here

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