Since their number of therapy dogs and dog handlers has grown in Jeffreys Bay, Touch Our Pets therapy dogs – known as TOP Dogs – have been able to make regular visits to old age homes, which have brought great joy and excitement to all the residents.
As previously reported by the Kouga Express in February, TOP Dogs, which consists of a group of volunteers and their dogs, who visit various facilities in their community, were hoping that more therapy dogs and dog handlers would join their worthy cause in Jeffreys Bay and Gqeberha.
According to TOP Dogs area coordinator, Jill Thompson, since their appeal to the public almost four months ago, at least 12 therapy dogs and their handlers have joined their non-profit voluntary organisation, which brought the total to seven in the Kouga region and 10 in Gqeberha.
She said since more therapy dogs and dog handlers have joined their team, they have been able to make weekly visits to Eedenglen Frail Care Facility in Wavecrest and Amala Nursing Home in Noorsekloof. In addition, each school term, they visit Pharos Primary School at least once.
Thompson, who joined TOP Dogs in 2020, said during their visits to the two centres they noticed that the residents looked forward to interacting with the therapy dogs, as it often brought back fond memories of their pets.
“It is great to see radiant smiles lighting up the residents’ faces when they interact with the therapy dogs,” said Thompson.
She said facilities that were interested in having TOP Dogs visit can e-mail her on jillmjbay@gmail.com.
Furthermore, Thompson said, interested parties would be required to fill in an application form and once she has approved it, she would arrange for the team in Jeffreys Bay to conduct a pilot visit.
Alta Vermaak, the matron at Eedenglen Frail Care Facility, said when she began working at the facility, six years ago, there was a ‘No dogs allowed’ sign at the entrance of the facility, which she removed, as she believes dogs were beneficial for the residents at the facility.
It was, however, only in 2018, when Thompson began visiting the facility with her dog as a guest and then in 2020 as a volunteer from TOP Dogs, that the residents began to interact with therapy dogs.
“The visits from the therapy dogs have a big impact on the residents and we see how their eyes sparkle,” said Vermaak. “Each time the dogs visit, one of our residents bursts out in tears of joy.”
She said many of the residents at the facility had dementia but the interactions with the therapy dogs reminded them of their own pets.
Elsabe Smith, the matron at Amala Nursing Home, said that as with Eedenglen, Thompson began visiting with her dog in 2018, as a guest, but in 2020, as a volunteer from TOP Dogs.
TOP Dogs began visiting their facility in 2018, with only one dog, but now they have seen quite a few dogs from the organisation visiting their residents in the various departments. She said the visits from the therapy dogs and their trainers yielded positive results, as their residents have been able to touch and talk to the dogs.
“TOP Dogs have well-trained dogs, and they are doing such a good thing for the elderly people at our centre,” said Smith.
To join the organisation as a volunteer, people need to complete an application form on the TOP Dogs website, https://www.therapytopdogs.co.za/ for approval.
