(Image: Supplied)
Soaring demand has prompted a North East homecare company to expand its dog therapy team to 16 specially trained animals supporting customers’ wellbeing.
Caremark Redcar and Cleveland launched CareBark three years ago, and requests for its pet therapy have continued to grow.
The dogs are built into customers’ care plans to provide emotional support.
Michelle Jackson, managing director of Caremark, said: "When we introduced CareBark, we hoped the dogs would make a meaningful difference, but the response has exceeded all our expectations.
“To see the service grow to 16 therapy dogs in just three years shows how much people value the comfort, confidence and companionship they provide."
The dogs visit customers across Redcar and Cleveland with handlers who are trained home-care assistants, as part of their assessed care packages.
The dogs support mental health, ease loneliness and encourage people to stay active and involved in their communities.
The service also extends to schools, colleges, day centres, care homes, hospitals, and hospices.
Organisations outside the area have also asked the therapy dogs to visit.
Ms Jackson said: "We know that schools, health services and community organisations are under significant financial pressure, and many simply do not have the budget for additional services, however valuable they may be.
"We fundraise wherever we can, but we would warmly welcome donations or sponsorship from businesses with corporate social responsibility programmes, as well as individuals who are in a position to support us.
"Their generosity would help us bring the comfort and companionship of CareBark to many more people."
The team comprises Labradors Red, Wren, Chance, Kyro, Emmie, Axel, Shadow, Star, Mabel, Billy and JJ, Labradoodle Marley, Cockapoos Wilma and Blue, and Cavapoos Sunny and Reggie.
JJ, who has anxiety, has been trained to spend time with selected customers and serves as the office therapy dog.
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Local breeder Julia Bowes donated therapy dog Billy to Caremark and bred several of the team’s other Labradors.
To find out more about CareBark or help fund it, call Caremark Redcar and Cleveland on 01287 634706 or email redcar@caremark.co.uk.
One customer, Susan Malcolmson, formed such a strong bond with Chance that he led her funeral procession; her family later donated £100 to help Caremark buy another therapy dog, Star, named in her memory.