PAT Guinea Pigs?

Status
Not open for further replies.
AudioHeart

AudioHeart

Senior Guinea Pig
Joined
Jun 23, 2010
Messages
10,683
Reaction score
94
Points
920
Evening! :)

I have just emailed PAT enquiring if they register guinea pigs as therapy animals,(I couldn't seem to find any information on registering other animals on their website) as I think Percy-Roo and Harvey would, both, be perfect for the job. They love their cuddles and thrive of human attention.

Does anyone on here know if guinea pigs have been known to be PAT pets?

Laura x
 
What does PAT mean or Stand for? I'm guessing something animal therapy from your post....

It worked for me last night, i was in tears so had a piggy cuddle and felt better afterwards.
 
piggyfan said:
Aww what a lovely idea :)
Click to expand...

I think Percy-Roo, and Harvey would really enjoy it their both always trying to get attention! I was thinking they could do twenty min sessions each and swap so it would almost be an hour session but with two different piggies to cuddle and they'd both get a break and a bite to eat inbetween times.

I've just emailed them but now I'm thinking i should of telephoned them! :))
 
Toffeewoffee said:
What does PAT mean or Stand for? I'm guessing something animal therapy from your post....

It worked for me last night, i was in tears so had a piggy cuddle and felt better afterwards.
Click to expand...

*nods* yep Pets As Therapy, http://www.petsastherapy.org/, you register yourself and your pet, pay an annual fee, and then you and your pet are registered, insured and visit nursing homes/ hospital wards/ children with mental disabilities etc on a regular basis.

As I'm working part time, I was hoping to do afternoon therapy sessions with the boys, i think it would be lovely piggies aren't as boistress or bouncey (Or big!) as dogs and they're so calm too.

Piggie cuddles drool
 
I'd be more than happy to try them out, and archie and percy's wife, sorry her name escapes me! x
 
Toffeewoffee said:
I'd be more than happy to try them out, and archie and percy's wife, sorry her name escapes me! x
Click to expand...

Hmmm....hopefully noone will pignap them! {:|
BellasMummy said:
Its a lovely idea, your piggies would be perfect for the job Laura :)
Click to expand...

Aww thank you :rose they're such good pigs, I've just had a nose on the rabbit united site for PAT buns and apparently you can get PAT buns too so perhaps pat pigs too! fingers crossed :)
 
I think i have posted on here before that i have heard of PAT guinea pigs being used in the past and i actually think it was Peter Gurney that used to take some of his pigs to Great Ormond Street Hospital, but apparantly one of the guinea poigs bit a patient and it had to be stopped, so just beware, i know guinea pigs are not natural biters, but if a child or elderly person puts their finger close to a guinea pigs mouth then it may be mistaken for a carrot.

I think it should be thought through carefully before you go down this route as i am not sure about insurance concerns if your pet does bite. Sorry to throw a dampner on it but i just wanted you to be aware of the if's and but's xx
 
JoBo said:
I think i have posted on here before that i have heard of PAT guinea pigs being used in the past and i actually think it was Peter Gurney that used to take some of his pigs to Great Ormond Street Hospital, but apparantly one of the guinea poigs bit a patient and it had to be stopped, so just beware, i know guinea pigs are not natural biters, but if a child or elderly person puts their finger close to a guinea pigs mouth then it may be mistaken for a carrot.

I think it should be thought through carefully before you go down this route as i am not sure about insurance concerns if your pet does bite. Sorry to throw a dampner on it but i just wanted you to be aware of the if's and but's xx
Click to expand...

That was one of my worries at first, but reading on the website the pets are assessed before they can be registered and are put in a series of scenarios, I'm not too sure on the insurance but I'll have a look into that now :)
 
Just got an email back, they don't allow guinea pigs to be registered, but wished me best of luck finding somewhere that will. *hmmmm* nevermind! lol
 
Oh that is a shame, i did thin that PAT only did dogs and cats, i really want to register my Chocolate lab Monty as a PAT dog, may do it in the future cause he is the perfect candidate so laid back and would not hurt a fly (would not know how to hurt a fly).

Anyway, maybe if you look into the insurance side of it, there is no reason why you cant do it off your own back and phone nursing homes to see if you can visit with the guinea pigs. I dont think hospitals will let you in without being part of a proper affiliated business/charity. I am sure small private places will be able to accept you though.

Just get yourself insured first xx
 
JoBo said:
Oh that is a shame, i did thin that PAT only did dogs and cats, i really want to register my Chocolate lab Monty as a PAT dog, may do it in the future cause he is the perfect candidate so laid back and would not hurt a fly (would not know how to hurt a fly).

Anyway, maybe if you look into the insurance side of it, there is no reason why you cant do it off your own back and phone nursing homes to see if you can visit with the guinea pigs. I dont think hospitals will let you in without being part of a proper affiliated business/charity. I am sure small private places will be able to accept you though.

Just get yourself insured first xx
Click to expand...

Good idea :)

I also thought they did but there was no harm in asking :)

Thats a really good idea, I'll have a look into that and see what it involves, I was just thinking of going through a charity as I wasn't sure what to ask/ expect etc.

Thank you!

xxxxx
 
Good luck keep us informed on how you get on xx
 
My Harold goes with me every wheek to visit my Nan in the sheltered complex she lives in, so kind of a pat piggy x
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top