LOCAL woman Rita Cooper and her black spaniel Bella visit Fermanagh schools and care homes to offer a space where people can express their feelings without judgment.

Rita is now calling for ‘More Paws on Deck’ to help expand this comforting service.

Bella, an 8-year-old trained therapy dog, is part of the national Pets As Therapy (PATS) Charity.

PATS is a network of volunteers and their temperament-assessed pets who visit care homes, hospitals and schools bring comfort and smiles to people of all ages.

Rita recalls how she got involved.

She said, “I was talking to the vice principal of Willowbridge, and she mentioned how she wished the school could have a therapy dog.

“I suggested PATS and she said they’d been waiting for almost two years but couldn’t find a dog in the area.

“The more I thought about it, I realized I could do that. I have a friendly spaniel who loves children.”

Since joining PATS, Rita and Bella regularly visit Willowbridge Special School, Ballinamallard Primary School and St. Ninnidh’s Primary School in Derrylin.

They also visit Meadow View Care Home and Drumary House in Derrygonnelly monthly.

Rita shared a heartwarming story from one of their school visits.

She said, “One of the schools had a P3 pupil who read an entire book to Bella.

“The classroom assistant told me that she’d never heard them read like that.

“They won’t do it in class because they’re afraid of getting it wrong.

“There’s not a child I visit who doesn’t know Bella. They might not remember me but they always call me ‘Bella’s mummy’ which is so sweet.”

After researching, Rita found that therapy dogs are rare in Fermanagh and is eager to change that.

“I would love more people to get involved, as there are only so many places I can visit,” Rita said.

“It’s incredibly rewarding and has a positive impact on people’s emotional, social, and educational well-being.”

To register with PATS, your pet needs references to confirm they are friendly and not prone to jumping.

They must also be assessed by a PATS assessor or a vet. The process is simple and accessible.

The annual registration fee is £25, which covers insurance for visiting homes and schools.

For more information and to start your journey today, visit https://petsastherapy.org.

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