‘Absolutely devastated’: Volunteer’s plea to save therapy dog service

A volunteer is making a plea to try and save a nationwide pet therapy programme before it’s dropped by St John, as part of cuts the charity’s making.

There are 440 volunteers in the programme across the country, mostly comprising of therapy dog teams that visit hospitals, rest homes and schools, among other places.

Those visits have brought joy to many people over the years, with dogs and handlers providing comfort to sick and injured patients at their time of need.

However it will soon be without a home.

The ambulance service has announced it is closing the service in June, citing a change in strategy. It says it is trying to "transition" the programme to another provider so it can focus on new priorities, in what has been a “difficult choice”.

But while those discussions have started, it’s yet to lock in an alternative provider to take over and the closure date is nearing.

Now one the emergency service’s most loyal therapy dog teams is making a public plea, in the hope someone can come forward to take over.

Brenda Sutherland carries out more than 100 therapy visits in Canterbury a year, with her flat coat retriever BB at her side.

“BB absolutely loves her job, she's very good at it,” Sutherland said.“We are really, really hoping that some organisation or some business or somebody that is listening today to this report will say, ‘we could do that’, and maybe link in with St John.”

Sutherland said she was “absolutely devasted” to learn St John had decided to stop offering the service when it made the announcement late last year. She described the joy she had seen the animals bring to people in stressful situations, such as children receiving IV treatments.

“[BB will] go into a meeting with the parents and children and nine times out of 10, the parents will be playing with BB's ears because they're so lovely and soft. And I also see their shoulders drop as they relax,” she said.

St John meanwhile said it hoped to be able to share “more news in the near future”, after conversations with other pet therapy providers about a potential transition.

It declined an interview request from 1News, instead issuing a statement from its deputy chief executive of community health, Pete Loveridge, who praised both Sutherland and BB for their work over the years.

“Hato Hone St John is having positive and constructive discussions with other pet therapy providers,” he said.

“We are hopeful these conversations will lead to positive developments.”

The executive added that St John knew how much the programme meant to volunteers and the communities they served, and said it was a “difficult choice”.

“It allows us to focus our energy and resources on prevention and wellness initiatives that reduce pressure on emergency ambulance services,” he said.

The decision was part of a new strategy at the charity, which aimed to expand health education, enable proactive health monitoring and improve access to health services.

“We are committed to supporting our volunteers through thischange and offering other meaningful volunteer opportunities within Hato Hone St John, for those who wish to stay connected with us,” Loveridge said.

Sutherland meanwhile has pointed to the value that therapy dogs brought to the community.

She cited the example of nine-year-old Olivia Anderson, a primary school student in North Canterbury she regularly visits with BB.

Olivia has struggled with anxiety that impacted her ability to focus in class, limiting her learning.

Olivia’s mum Brigette Higinbottom got in touch with Sutherland and arranged visits with BB, to see if that would help.

“She couldn't concentrate, she couldn't sort of listen to the teacher, she was constantly wondering where I was and what was going on, so with her anxiety, it affected her learning really, really significantly,” she said.

When BB started coming along to class with Oliva for an hour at a time, that started to change.

“She loves BB and she's got pictures of BB at home,” Higinbottom said.

“We just saw a real change in Olivia, just a lot a lot calmer, a lot more relaxed, which then allowed her to be more confident and push her boundaries a little bit more.”

BB stands for Black Beauty, on account of the dog’s beautiful black coat.

At a recent visit at school attended by 1News, BB was the centre of attention and surrounded by adoring children. She stayed close by Olivia’s side throughout.

“She makes me feel calm and safe while I'm at school,” Olivia said.

“She’s just really nice.”

Olivia sees BB privately – outside of St John – so her visits will continue.

But the family was sad to think that others will lose access to the dogs, if St John cannot find a partner to take over.

“Now I'm OK with my mum leaving sometimes and I think BBdid make some of that difference,” Olivia said.

“I think it'd be really sad that people were missing out on that input, especially when there's therapy dogs out there ready to work and handlers that are happily giving up their time”, her Mum echoed.

For its part, St John also praised Sutherland and BB as “valued and much-appreciated volunteers”.

“We sincerely appreciate the time, dedication, and service that Brenda and BB have given over the years,” it said in a statement.

“Together, they have built meaningful connections with the people they visit, and their presence has made a real difference.”

Sutherland said she hoped BB could continue in that work, with the closure date coming ever closer.

“If they're able to help some other organisation into this new programme that would be my absolute dream.”