I feel inspired, perhaps my pig has a career in this?

[charlotte_alice]

After watching Friends for Life on Crufts and seeing how valuable animals large and small can be to people in hospital/homes/orpanages etc, I found an interesting clip of a local care home who use piggies as therapy.

Here is the website and funny video, I wonder whether any body knows if I could volunteer to do this? Audrina would be perfect shes very well behaved, plump and cuddly.

It touched my heart this did and I would be interested to hear any advice or information anybody may have.

http://www.kent.gov.uk/adult_social...ry/your_stories/guinea_pigs_at_west_view.aspx

 

[charlotte_alice]

 

[sophiew (EAGPR)]

Pets as Therapy charity have dogs and cats but I've never heard of piggies!

Peter Gurney used to take his guineas to see children at Great Ormond Street, I think

Sophie
x

 

[Wiebke]

I have heard of somebody who took their very laid back couple of guinea pigs to a nursing home.

 

[fritsthegirl]

Maybe you could just call around your local care homes and ask them if you think they would be interested to have you visit? Even if it's just once to try it out and see how your guinea copes, if it's a success I am sure they would have you back or consider getting their own pigs like the home in the video. I think its a great idea, and there is no doubt animals have a positive affect on many people, but this is especially evident in the sick and elderly.

 

[Teresa J]

I have a friend who has a small holding, goats, kune kune pig, donkey etc and they open the place at weekends for handicapped children to go in for as long as they want and help with the animals. They also have guineas, bunnies, rats and lizardy things which they take into childrens hospices' and hospital wards on a regular basis.

The animals seem to like it, they get their animals as tiny babies so that they become very used to the experience and the children absolutely love it

Teresa x

(should add that my friend has been trained to look after handicapped children so all above board and official )

 

[mojules]

I dont think it wise to let our two be therapy piggies A) they need therapy themselves staying with us mallethead and B) jules has absolutely no control over his bladder lol