At Thistle Court Care Home, one very special puppy called Dora the Explorer has become a familiar face to many residents (who the home refers to as family members) living at the home.
Dora first visited the home when she was just eight weeks old after attending the home’s Christmas event with her owner Abi Phillips. During the visit, she spent time meeting family members around the home, bringing smiles and laughter wherever she went. Reflecting on that first visit, Abi shared: “Everyone fell in love with her. Seeing people’s faces light up just melted me, so I spoke with Sarah the home manager about making the visits a regular thing if it would help the family members.”
Since then, Dora has become a familiar and much-loved part of life at the home, with many family members looking forward to her visits. “Our visits to Thistle Court always make me emotional because everyone loves seeing her,” Abi explained. “Dora knows where she is going when we arrive and is so gentle with everyone. She loves the cuddles, and of course the extra treats too.”
During visits, Dora spends time sitting with family members, accepting plenty of hugs and affection, while also helping start conversations. “There are always lots of smiles, giggles and happy faces,” she said. “People often start telling stories about their own animals, which is so lovely to hear.
The visits also highlight the comfort animals can bring to people emotionally. Abi explained that Dora is currently training to become her therapy dog. “Animals have quite a way of getting under your skin in a good way,” she shared. “There doesn’t always need to be conversation, which can help people feel more at ease. Animals don’t care what kind of day you’ve had or how you look. They respond to people in their own way.”
“She’s very good at picking up on emotions. If someone is upset or in pain, she’ll often sit close to them or lay across their lap. Playful animals can really help shift someone’s mood when they’re feeling low.”
At Thistle Court, visits like Dora’s form part of creating a warm and homely environment, where connection, comfort and companionship remain an important part of everyday life.
For more information about Thistle Court Care Home activities please visit Activities in Care – Thistle Court Care Home