Boots Brings Joy to the Ward
Philippa Mentor and her dog Boots are Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora’s newest pet therapy team in Northland, regularly visiting the children’s playroom to bring joy to the young patients. 
We talked to Boots about his first introductory visit to the Childrens ward, and the welcome he received from everyone on a Wednesday afternoon.
“I wasn’t sure where I was going or who I was going to meet, but I did feel really excited. Recently I had been tested on my listening and obedience and then observed by people in St John’s uniforms. I even had to leave a treat on the floor and walk past it! That was hard.
At these meetings, I was told I was a good boy, so I knew I was doing something right.
When Mum took me up to the Whangārei Hospital I felt needed. When we walked in, so many people stopped to pat me and ask who I was. I felt a bit famous. But I knew it was deeper than this, because when I locked eye contact sometimes… I even saw some tears coming out of their eyes.
They must have needed to see a little dog like me that day.
We walked upstairs and through wards as people pointed and smiled from their rooms. I knew whatever I was doing was making people happy – so I liked it.
The manager of the children’s ward led me into a playroom. There were so many smells and cool toys in there! These kids were lucky to hang out here sometimes, especially if they weren’t feeling very good, it was a special place to have some playtime.
I met three children on our visit – I could have stayed all day to get more pats and love from the patients on the ward. The longer I stayed the more smiles I noticed, and everyone wanted me to come back - even all the nurses.
It was the birthday of one nurse that day, so I guess I was her surprise present given how happy I made her.
Everyone just loved me. I like love.
I didn’t do too much, just looked at people, sat still for strokes, and wandered around looking at the room.
That doesn’t seem like a lot, but I guess it matters to humans more than I know. I can’t wait to go back to meet some more little people and hear their laughs again.” - Boots (Schnauzer x Fox Terrier, aged 11)
Pet therapy, also known as animal-assisted therapy, involves the use of animals to help improve patients' mental, emotional, and physical well-being. This approach has been shown to offer many health benefits to patients, staff and whānau.
The benefits of pet therapy include stress and anxiety reduction, increased emotional support, empathy, and social connection. There are also physical improvements linked with pet therapy, such as pain management, increased physical activity and studies have also shown that pet therapy can lead to lower blood pressure and heart rate, helping to keep your heart healthy.
Therapy Pets was first introduced in 1988 by Iris and Bob Kerridge (SPCA), after they were inspired by a similar programme in San Francisco and saw the potential here in New Zealand. In 2003 SPCA joined St John to grow the service around Auckland and then across the country. Today, St John fully own and operate the service.
“The Aroha of an animal can reduce stress and put a smile on everyone's face. They give comfort to people who are sick or lonely, or even children with learning needs. Sometimes it can even help with physical pain,” says St John.
If you see Boots around, make sure to say hello - he’s very friendly and loves a pat.
https://www.stjohn.org.nz/what-we-do/community-programmes/therapy-pets/(external link)
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