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Pets
as Therapy
“Crufts 2003 the busiest ever” - says Maureen Hennis
PETS AS Therapy’s busiest Crufts ever. That’s the
only way I can describe the PAT involvement in the 2003 event.
The PAT stand was a hive of activity throughout the four days.
On day one, PAT Awareness Week was launched. This will take
place between 1st-8th June during which supporters are organising
events to raise awareness and support for the charity.
Several events have already been confirmed including the seminar
by Jan Fennell, the Dog Listener, which will take place on Sunday
8th June at Banbury in Oxfordshire.
Tickets are £10 per session with morning and afternoon
sessions. Tickets are available by contacting Jenny Orchard
on 01295 811655.
The PAT ‘Raise a Smile Money Box Appeal’ was launched
on day two. Anyone can apply to the charity for a free pyramid
style money box, in which you are asked to save 20p pieces.
If you would like a free money box, contact Kate Swinhoe on
01873-851313.
The planned launch of our PAT Junior Club was on day three.
Many youngsters had expressed a wish to become more involved
in the work of Pets As Therapy and now they have their own special
club. All members receive a certificate and junior badge on
registration, they will then receive newsletters and information
about any events taking place in their area that they would
like to get involved with. The youngsters can then be ‘buddied’
with a registered volunteer and go on an actual PAT visit to
a hospital, residential home etc, with the permission of establishments
and the junior members’ parents.
The very first junior member was 15-year-old Tom Hogan. Tom
decided he wanted to do some special fundraising for Pets As
Therapy and came up with the idea of trying to raise £5,000
in just one hour.
So many people wanted to be involved in the event that it became
very apparent that the PAT stand just wasn’t large enough
to cope, therefore Iams stepped in and very kindly gave Pets
As Therapy the use of their stand for one hour. At the relevant
time, Vince Hogan of OUR DOGS counted down to start the hour.
Maureen Hennis, director of Pets As Therapy was on the microphone,
and for the hour continuously kept passers by informed as to
what was happening. Dozens of PAT volunteers, accompanied by
their PAT dogs and supporters were in the area with collecting
boxes and buckets, including Robert Killick and young Tom Hogan
himself.
A ‘beat the clock’ style clock and a fundraising thermometer
had been made ‘Blue Peter’ style and this was topped
up throughout the hour enabling people to see exactly how much
time was left and how much was left to be collected to reach
the target. Kevin Horkin kindly organised personalities who
came along to give their support – Pam St Clement (Pat,
Eastenders); Katie Boyle; Cindy Marshall-Day (Tracy Booth, Crossroads);
Lisa Maxwell (Samantha Nixon, The Bill); and Kacey Ainsworth
(Little Mo, Eastenders); all kindly offered to sign autographs
as long as people donated to the appeal.
Donated
With just two minutes to go, there was still £500 to raise
to reach the target. Robin Sharpe, the External Relations Manager
of Iams, approached Maureen Hennis and donated a £500
cheque at the last minute.
Thanks to Iams, Robert Killick, OUR DOGS, John Wright (Coaches
to Shows), Pet Plan, Shaws, Blackpool Championship Show, and
all the trade stand holders, exhibitors, PAT volunteers and
general public who supported the appeal.
Special thanks must go to Tom Hogan, whose idea it was. Everyone
was delighted. Tom’s target was reached. Five thousand
pounds in one hour – quite an achievement and one which
will greatly benefit the Pets As Therapy charity.
Sunday dawned, and it was another day full of activity for Pets
As Therapy. Maureen Hennis had been giving presentation on the
Iams stand every day accompanied by two PAT dogs and their owners.
On the last day, she was accompanied by Rev Chris Colledge and
PAT Dog of the Year 2002, Topher, as well as Ann Quarrie with
her PAT dog, Sweep. With Sweep was Phil Smith, who was to be
guest of honour at the birthday party to be held on the Pets
As Therapy stand later in the day. It was 20 years ago, to the
day, since the inception of Pets As Therapy and whilst Maureen
gave her presentation Iams set up a birthday cake out of her
sight. Maureen has been involved with Pets As Therapy since
the very start of the charity, and therefore it fell to her
to blow out the candles on the cake.
On both Saturday and Sunday, parades of PAT dogs had been organised
twice on each day. These took place in the Good Citizen’s
Ring, and featured 12 working PAT dogs in each parade. The last
parade on sunday featured PAT Dog of the Year, topher; Alan
Parton and Endal, who is well known as the Dog of the Millennium
for his work with Canine Partners. Few people know that Endal
is also a registered PAT dog. Also in the ring was Sweep, with
owner Ann Quarrie and Phil Smith, one of the patients Sweep
visits.
Everyone then moved back to the Pets As Therapy stand where
a beautiful birthday cake was to be cut by Phil Smith. Phil
was blind from the age of eight and then was involved in a horrendous
accident which left him unable to move any limbs, unable to
speak or eat and in a wheelchair. Phil had been in hospital
for two years, and was then moved to a residential home. He
was introduced to PAT dog, Sweep, who started visiting him regularly.
It gave Phil a new lease for life and he started to accompany
Sweep every week to training classes.
When Phil heard that Sweep was going to Crufts to be in the
Parade of PAT Dogs, he was determined to attend. Pets As Therapy
decided to ask Phil to cut their 20th birthday cake which he
did with the help of Ann Quarrie, the PAT volunteer who has
become so involved with Phil that she can now use a system of
communication used by Phil which consists of the alphabet and
small nods of Phil’s head.
Pets As Therapy received a huge amount of help at Crufts, and
would like to thank everyone involved for all your help and
support.
Thoughts now turn to Crufts 2004 – how Pets As Therapy
are going to out do this year remains to be seen, but I am quite
sure they will come up with something.
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