A charity in Hexham is looking for volunteers, both human and canine, to go on dog visits to elderly and disabled people who can't have dogs of their own.
Wag and Company was formed by CEO Diane Morton in 2016, and in the time since, they have made over 90,000 friendship dog visits to people who need it the most. With over 400 teams of owner and dog visiting people from North Yorkshire up to the Scottish Borders, word has travelled fast and demand for the service is rising.
There are a few requirements for dogs to be put forward to keep people safe and calm when they visit. They must be at least 18 months old, have a good temperament, love cuddling and be kept under control. If this is the case they will then be assessed by qualified trainers to see if they are suitable for the visits.
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There is also a lot to get out of it for the people that volunteer to go on visits. They receive help and support such as help to get a DBS check, getting matched up with people to visit, a uniform for them and a bandana for their dog, as well as insurance.
People are asked to give around 2 hours of their time a week and people will get matched in their local area to ensure convenience and make it work alongside jobs and other commitments.
CEO Diane Morton has explained why the charity are in great need for more volunteers, as well as what kinds of people Wag and Company are looking for to come and support the cause.
"We have huge demand for what we do, now as we've got more than 220 care homes, hospitals, and hospices on our waiting list and around 20 home placements that we need to find lovely Visiting Wag Teams for. We always look to match our home placements first as they are generally people who are more isolated, living on their own and with more complex health issues.
"Anyone that could give a couple of hours a week to share their time and their dog with an elderly neighbour would find it one of the most rewarding things they've ever done. You meet some great people with great stories and life experiences to share.
"They're obviously huge dog lovers too and many have had a whole life of loving different dogs and breeds and they're going to love the one that comes and visits them once a week too", she said.
To find out more, go to the Wag and Company website
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