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'Dogs don't judge you': NHS trust rolls out animal therapy scheme

Luxmy GopalLondon
News imageBBC Katia Stanford, a woman with dark hair tied back and a fringe, wearing a dark green polo shirt, smiles at the camera with her hand on a biscuit-coloured poodle.BBC
Katia Stanford says therapy dog Ruby has the right qualities for the role

"With dogs, there's no judgement so it makes it easier to open up," says Frankie.

She is among those who have benefited from animal therapy through the Central and North West London NHS Trust.

The scheme offers sessions with therapy dogs, cats and other animals to people experiencing mental health conditions.

It has run locally since 2023 but the trust is now rolling out the provision across all of its sites - 16 in total.

While some experts say much more research is needed, others say animal therapy is already making a big difference.

News imageFrankie, a woman with dark medium-length hair, who is wearing glasses, a black top, a white blouse, black trousers and white trainers, is bending over to pat Ruby the poodle. Ruby's handler Katia Stanford is sitting in a chair, watching and smiling. They are in a room with green walls and white cube storage units behind them.
The animal's handler is present throughout the therapy sessions

Sessions involve patients having the chance to stroke, play with, or sometimes walk the therapy dog in the presence of its handler.

"Dogs are unconditional - they love you no matter what," says Frankie.

"And they're the most calming, soothing influence.

"At my lowest, I was in and out of hospital constantly. I self-harmed and I made a few attempts to take my own life."

Frankie said she could not engage with traditional talking therapies at the time, as she found it hard to open up. But that changed with animal therapy.

News imageFrankie, a woman with medium-length dark hair and wearing glasses and a white lace blouse under a black cardigan, looks at the camera
Frankie found animal therapy a valuable addition to her treatment

"When you're having a bit of a panic, the dog will sit with you and you know you can stroke it. I also find the sensory aspect of petting animals calming," adds Frankie.

Therapy dog Ruby has had no specialist training.

Katia Stanford, who has owned her since she was five, got her assessed by the charity Canine Concern.

After Ruby showed she could handle busy environments, she started work as a therapy dog.

News imageKatia Stanford Katia Stanford and Ruby are stood outside, in front of a door, looking at the cameraKatia Stanford
Ruby, a 14-year-old poodle, had no specialist training but was assessed for the role

Stanford, an activity co-ordinator at the Central and North West London NHS Trust, takes Ruby on to hospital sites to work with people with various mental health needs.

The role of a therapy animal requires a particular set of skills, says Stanford.

Ruby needs to cope with lots of strangers in a busy, noisy hospital setting.

"She needs to be non-reactive when being stroked by different people. No licking, no jumping up, none of the things that your pet at home would do," says Stanford.

She says it is about the dog as well as the patients.

"I know that not to have too many people in the room because it overwhelms her. I need to keep her stress levels low too."

News imageKatia Stanford Ruby stood in the middle of four pink soft chairsKatia Stanford
Therapy animals must be able to cope with a hospital's noisy environment

What makes an animal right for the role?

According to Stanford, therapy animals need the following qualities:

  • Intuitive and good with strangers
  • Able to handle busy, noisy environments
  • Calm, even when being stroked all over by lots of people
  • Able to resist jumping up and licking people
  • Gentle, including when taking treats
  • Hypoallergenic, ideally
News imageAnika Kaul, a woman with long dark hair, wearing a black zipped top, smiles at the camera
Occupational therapist Anika Kaul says animal therapy has various benefits

How effective is animal therapy?

"A lot of research has been done into showing that pet therapy can be really beneficial for the patients," says Anika Kaul, an occupational therapist at the Central and North West London NHS Trust.

"Many of our patients haven't had the chance to explore a lot of safe and nurturing relationships.

"So having the pet there helps to foster that relationship.

"There are also a lot of sensory soothing and grounding effects from stroking or holding the animal."

News imageDr Elena Ratschen Dr Elena Ratschen, a woman wearing a black coat and a pink scarf, is crouching down on grass, holding the paw of a brown dog that is sat beside herDr Elena Ratschen
Dr Elena Ratschen says it is concerning that animal therapy is unregulated in the UK

However, many experts say not enough is known about the subject.

"Animal-assisted therapy isn't currently regulated in the UK, which is a concern," says Dr Elena Ratschen, human-animal interaction and mental health research lead at the University of York.

"There is clearly a lot of potential in it and that potential has been demonstrated in proof of concept studies.

"But many studies in the field have too small a sample size. Much more rigorous research and evidence-based data is needed."

News imageCentral and North West London NHS Trust A composite image showing a photo of Jessie, a black cat with white paws and white fur around her neck, on the left and Jessie pictured outside in the sun on the rightCentral and North West London NHS Trust
The trust has therapy cat Jessie at its Park Royal Mental Health Centre

Dr Katie Sparks, chartered member of the British Psychological Society, adds: "Research has been done on the effects of stroking dogs or cats and how it releases oxytocin, which is the hormone to do with maternal bonding and so on.

"But animal therapy isn't one size fits all. It's got to be bespoke, looking at what fits that person."

News imageAmanda Pithouse, a woman with a dark bob, wearing glasses, smiling at the camera
Chief nurse Amanda Pithouse says rolling out NHS animal therapy is worth the cost

Amanda Pithouse, the Central and North West London NHS Trust's chief nurse, says the therapy has had a "great effect" on people who have been suffering from trauma in the past, those with dementia, and those diagnosed with bipolar affective disorder.

She says it will cost thousands of pounds in the long-term to roll it out fully but the benefits will far outweigh the costs.

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