Penzance therapy dog Trixie brings comfort to care homes and Pride events

A firefighter had just spent the day dealing with anti-LGBTQIA+ protestors. The thing that made it better was a cuddle with a small fluffy dog called Trixie.

That moment, Ryan says, sums up exactly why he does what he does.

Ryan and his Pomsky, Trixie, from Penzance have spent the past two years volunteering with Pets As Therapy, regularly visiting care homes and community settings to bring comfort, confidence and companionship to the people they meet.

A natural fit for therapy work

Ryan says it was Trixie’s character that made her right for the role.

“She has always been affectionate and seems to instinctively understand who needs her,” he said. “She absolutely loves meeting people. You can see in her demeanour that she enjoys the visits, the fuss and of course the treats!”

For Ryan, the rewards are clear to see in the people Trixie spends time with.

“The biggest things I notice are joy and confidence,” he said. “People relax around her. She helps people feel safe.”

Comfort at Pride events

As part of Pride Month, Ryan has been sharing his experiences at Pride parades and community events, where Trixie has been offering comfort and emotional support to attendees.

One moment stayed with him. A member of the local fire and rescue service came over to Trixie after dealing with anti-LGBTQIA+ protestors during an event.

“They came over for a cuddle with Trixie afterwards and said how much better it made them feel,” Ryan said. “Moments like that really show the difference dogs can make.”

Giving something back

Ryan is currently a full-time unpaid carer, and he says the volunteering has changed things for him too.

“It allows me to do something for me and gives me purpose,” he explained.

His route into it started in a hospital. He had watched therapy dogs visit his partner during their stay.

“There was a little sausage dog who used to visit the spinal injuries unit, and it lifted everyone’s spirits,” he said. “Seeing that made me realise how important therapy dogs can be and now I feel privileged to be able to give something back.”

Ryan and Trixie are part of something much bigger. More than 6,200 Pets As Therapy volunteers visit over 6,600 schools, hospitals, care homes and community settings across the UK, supporting more than 631,000 people every year. Last year around 133,000 visits took place, helping to lift moods, reduce anxiety and ease loneliness.

You can find out more about Pets As Therapy on their website.