Donate this Christmas and make a difference
Please give the gift of magic this Christmas
Across the UK, thousands of people will spend this Christmas feeling isolated, anxious or facing incredibly difficult moments. But a simple wagging tail, a quiet snuggle or the soft weight of a dog’s head on someone’s lap can change everything, even if only for a few precious minutes.
This Christmas, you can help share that magic.
Every day, Pets As Therapy volunteers and their pets visit hospices, hospitals, care homes, schools, prisons and community settings, offering comfort, calm and connection when people need it most. From a child finding the courage to read aloud for the first time, to an older person in a care home smiling again after weeks of loneliness, the difference a PAT visit makes is both immediate and profound.
One of those magical teams is Charles and his PAT Dog, Annie, a gentle Yorkshire Terrier whose presence is transforming lives across Scotland. Whether she is supporting children learning to read, calming stressed students at university, or bringing peace and companionship to people in a hospice, Annie instinctively understands what each person needs, a quiet moment, a warm cuddle or a simple reminder that they are not alone.
But with demand for PAT visits growing rapidly across the UK, we urgently need your help to support more volunteers, reach more communities and bring these moments of magic to more people.
Your gift this Christmas will help make moments like these possible:
Make a one-off donation
Your gift helps us connect with more people in need of a little joy, offering them the comfort, companionship and happiness that only pets can provide. You might choose to give in memory of a loved one or a cherished furry friend. Another option is to donate to a funeral or memorial collection instead of sending flowers - a meaningful tribute that creates a lasting impact.
£10 could bring joy and comfort to 20 care home residents.
£25 could help us reach 50 primary schoolchildren.
£50 could train a voluntary assessor to test the suitability of PAT Pets.
£120 will support a student wellbeing event at a college or university.
Give monthly and keep the magic going
Regular giving is vital because it provides the steady support we need to plan ahead, say “yes” to more visits, and reach even more people with the comfort and joy of a therapy pet. Every monthly gift, big or small, keeps the magic multiplying.
£3 a month (£36 a year) allows us to recruit a new volunteer and their pet and support them during their first year.
£5 a month covers a regular visit to a care home, school or hospital.
£10 a month will fund our on going work to increase awareness and connect with more volunteers and places to visit.
Give in memory – celebrate a life, share the joy
Losing someone you love is never easy, but remembering them through a gift to Pets As Therapy can be a beautiful way to celebrate their life.
Your donation will help us bring the comfort, companionship and joy of a therapy pet to people who really need it – a living tribute that keeps making a difference.
Ways to give in memory
- Make a one-off donation in honour of your loved one or a much-missed pet.
- Collect donations at a funeral or memorial service instead of flowers. We can provide collection envelopes or help set up an online tribute page.
- Create a lasting legacy by encouraging friends and family to support Pets As Therapy each year on a special date, such as a birthday or anniversary.
Every gift in memory, whatever the size, helps us pass on the joy pets bring – to brighten days, spread comfort and bring smiles for years to come.
If you’d like to talk about giving in memory, or would like support setting up a collection, we’re here to help you create a tribute that feels right for you and honours the person – or pet – you miss.