Both Dido and Jill are PAWS FOR PEOPLE Therapy Dog handlers. We, and our dogs have visited the elderly, the young, the ill and the disabled, in various institutions, from hospitals, schools, homes and frail care centres. One of our most favourite and moving visits is the Rainbow Day Care Centre in the West Rand, which cares for mentally and physically disabled children, many of whom have multiple deficits and some with very profound disabilities. The calming and healing and comforting presence of our dogs cannot be explained. We have seen autistic children who were petrified beyond reason grow to adore our visits, where they offer no eye or physical contact to a human they interact and relate to the dogs! You can see a stiff cerebral palsied little body relax and be comforted by our dogs. Hyper-active kids calm down and can channel their energy into doing tasks with the dogs. Unhappy, frustrated and lonely children get unconditional cuddles, love and comfort from the dogs!
Obviously we need to get permission from the institutions we visit to post pictures of the residents, but Rainbow Day Care Centre is very happy for us to post these pictures and the West Rand Association for Persons with Disabilities (WRAPD) say that Rainbow Day Care Centre desperately needs assistance. Many of these children and their families lead a hand to mouth existence, for some of these kids the only meals they get are the ones they receive at Rainbow Day Care Centre - To find out more about how you can help, please see this document for more...
Photography by Emma O'Brien © www.emmaobrien.com 2011
Both Dido and Jill have adopted CLAWbies and CLAW (Community Led Animal Welfare) remains a charity very close to both of their hearts. CLAW's mission is to provide veterinary care for the poorest of the poor communities (mainly townships) which includes vaccinations and sterilizations as well as emergency vet care. Unfortunately, many animals are also rescued, rehabilitated and brought into the clinic needing to find adoptive homes, or face being put to sleep. Both Dido & Jill are committed to spreading the message about Adoption being the only option and not to breed or buy while animals in shelters die. Dido developed and updates the CLAW adoptions page and has been foster mommy to quite a few special CLAWbies through the years. In addition to animal advocacy, both PAWsome MOMS do their best to network the CLAWbies needing PAWsome forever homes of their own! EMBRACE LIFE: Adopt a CLAWbie!
We are also involved in animal advocacy and pet education projects.
Dog Blog articles such as HEALING THE TRAUMA OF DOG BITES
Pet Friendly accommoadtion articles and reviews in in the Pet Friendly Living Magazine and SA Pet Friendly Directory and online
