Rescued dog brings smiles to care home residents

A dog rescued in Romania has become a certified therapy dog in Norfolk.

Clement was found in a ditch after being attacked by two other dogs and hit by a car. He was nursed back to health and cared for by volunteers in Romania.

He has since been adopted and now works as a therapy dog through the charity Canine Concern, visiting elderly residents in care homes.

His owner, Stephanie Israel, who lives in Norwich, said the name Clement "means merciful and gentle, which is him to a T".

Care dogs need to have a specific type of personality, according to Israel.

"First of all, he's got to be calm, especially because he's working with older people," she said.

"You want a dog that's very calm and obviously he's got to enjoy affection as well."

She said Clement, a nine-year-old mixed breed, is especially good with people with dementia.

"His life has actually come full circle because his original owner in Romania, she was a lady who had dementia too," Israel said.

"I know the lady with dementia was a lovely lady who cared for him because he's such a sweet dog and he's not even scared of other dogs."

Clement was attacked by other dogs and hit by a car after his previous owner accidentally let him out.

He was found in a ditch during snowy weather three days later.

Since being brought to England, he has passed his Canine Concern assessments and has been visiting Ashfields Care Home in Rackheath every fortnight.

Israel told BBC Radio Norfolk: "Some of the people in the care home, they've had dogs when they were younger.

"The ones with dementia, that will get them thinking about the dogs that they've had, and they'll talk to us about their experiences with animals."

Israel now owns four rescue dogs from abroad.

"They're such easy dogs because the Romanian or the overseas dogs, they're used to other dogs, so you generally don't have a problem with them being around other dogs. Whereas a lot of the dogs for adoption in the UK, they have to be the only dog.

"So if I just had one from the UK, there'd be three lovely dogs that wouldn't have a home."

A spokesperson for Ashfields Care Home's operator, Barchester Healthcare, said: "It has been wonderful having Clement visit the residents. His calm and gentle nature brought a real sense of comfort and joy to the home, with many residents lighting up when spending time with him.

"Visits like this are a powerful reminder of how animal companionship can enhance wellbeing and bring people together."

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