calm and docile in nature as well as being tall enough to be accessible to people who are in wheelchairs or confined to beds.”Mike Baird, Chief Executive of HammondCare nursing home, also looked forward to the greyhounds visiting patients. The independent Christian charity prioritizes life engagement and relationship-based care with residents. Baird believes that the new program will benefit both the dogs and residents.Baird said, “Meaningful involvement with everyday life is crucial to everyone’s well-being.
I am delighted that one part of this Life Engagement Pilot is evaluating how animal engagement and support can improve quality of life for residents. What a wonderful outcome if rescued Greyhounds can be given a new purpose providing happiness for those who are older in the community.”Greyhound Rescue and HammondCare worked on creating the Hounds Helping Humans project for many months. Thankfully, their dedication and efforts paid off, and residents seemed to respond positively to the program.
They had a few setbacks along the way, but volunteers and coordinators pulled together for a successful launch. ADVERTISEMENT “COVID lockdowns kept frustrating our plans and shifting our start date, but the enthusiasm never waned,” Panzarino explained. “When we announced the program to our volunteers, there was an amazing heartfelt response.
So many of our people are keen to be part of this initiative and contribute to such an important part of society.”Australian Ethical, a sustainable investment firm, helped fund the pilot program with a grant. The rescue dog and human teams faced a rigorous selection process. Once chosen, the groups underwent a temperament test before completing a specialized training course.
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Mike Baird
