PAT dogs aiding crucial rehabilitation of stroke victims

Stroke survivors are being supported through their rehabilitation treatment programme by Pet As Therapy dogs as part of a new Stroke and PAT project.

The lottery funded collaborative project has been created through a partnership between national charity Pets As Therapy, the Stroke Rehab Dogs charity and the Ruth Winston Centre, which runs a monthly stroke advice clinic.

Based on the view that bringing an animal into therapy sessions can help patients to feel more at ease and motivated to engage, the Stroke and PAT project will be using animal assisted therapy (AAT) to help stroke victims re-learn everyday skills in a relaxing way which focuses on the power of the animal-human bond.

Pets As Therapy, chief executive, Lisa Coles said “We are very excited by the new ‘Stroke & PAT’ initiative. Sallie has been working with PAT dogs for several years to help stroke survivors and it is great to have the opportunity to offer it to a wider audience beyond the hospital environment.”

It is hoped stroke patients near the Ruth Winston Centre based in Enfield can use the community referral led service to improve their physical, emotional, psychosocial health, cognitive function and communication skills by spontaneous and non-confrontational interactions with PAT animals during rehabilitative therapy sessions.

Founding director of Stroke Rehab Dogs, Sallie Bollans, has been using PAT dogs to work with stroke patients for the last eight years in the NHS and is now keen to share the potential PAT dogs have for Stroke patients in the wider community.

She said: “I started working with the founding PAT team, Paula and her English Setter/Collie cross, Izzy, 10 years ago. During this time, I have observed the positive benefits that the presence of a dog can produce within a multidisciplinary therapy programme in neurological rehabilitation. The impact is so positive, that I was inspired to partner with Pets As Therapy, to start the Stroke and PAT project. I wanted to provide innovative and motivating therapeutic opportunities for stroke survivors of all ages and backgrounds who have specific rehabilitation goals, and who would benefit from the beneficial effects of working with companion animals. I am thrilled to have finally launched the project.”

Pet As Therapy is a national community based charity, which has been running since 1983 to provide therapeutic opportunities for a range of people including care home residents, special needs schools, and even universities to help anxious students to distress and relax.