Daisy’s a perfect ‘pat’ dog

Little Daisy is less than two feet tall, with fluffy ears and a constantly wagging tail. She’s also one of the most popular residents at Roseland Parc, an exclusive lifestyle village for the over 60s.

Daisy is a five-year-old Shih Tzu and since she moved to Roseland Parc with owners Mike and Valerie Juett she’s been making a lot of new friends.

Having read about the Pets As Therapy charity which introduces dogs, cats and rabbits to poorly or disabled children and older people, Mike knew Daisy would be perfect for the job.

“She’s such an exuberant little dog who loves cuddles and fuss,” said Mike. “When we take her and our other dog Poppy for walks they get a lovely reaction from people we meet. For dog lovers who no longer have their own pets having the chance to cuddle and stroke a dog can be really special.”

Now, once a fortnight, Mike takes Daisy into the Roseland Nursing Home to visit some of the residents. And she’s proving a very popular visitor.

“Seeing the residents with Daisy is lovely,” said Roseland Parc activities co-ordinator Lynn Trudgeon. “As they’ve got to know Daisy they have started to look forward to her visits. We hold as many activities as we can so that residents can continue interests they may have had before they moved here. For those who’ve always kept pets, Daisy is a welcome reminder.”

Mike was one of the first residents to move into the village’s independent living apartments but it’s Daisy who’s made her mark.

“I was walking through the gardens recently and one of the Nursing Home ladies pointed me out to her friend and said ‘that’s Daisy’s dad’,” said Mike. “I knew I’d arrived then!”

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