Fizz's pets are so loved by residents

A woman who works at a Plymouth dementia care home delivers not just care but added health benefits and good cheer to residents by taking three little furry companions into work with her for them to pet and love.

Jackapoo puppy Milo, Dinky the cat and Peter Rabbit give every appearance of being very happy with the gentle devotion that comes their way from residents at Butterfly Lodge in St Budeaux.

Sandra Kenny-Frow, who is known by the nickname Fizz, has been a member of the home’s activities team since August 2023. She says she has always been an animal lover and really understands the benefits of stroking and interacting with pets.

Colleague Sarah McCaffrey, deputy manager at Butterfly Lodge, said: “Milo is only five months old and he’s such a well-behaved little boy.

“Sandra is looking at getting him registered and trained as a therapy dog once he’s old enough.

“And Peter Rabbit is just so calm and cuddly, while Dinky is a very sociable cat and always up for snuggles.

“You can see how much our lovely ladies and gents enjoy being ‘in the moment’ while they’re stroking Milo, Dinky and Peter – they clearly find it very relaxing and the smiles on their faces speak for themselves.”

Research has shown pet therapy offers a wide range of benefits: mental, physical and cognitive. Petting animals can release the so-called happy hormones - oxytocin, serotonin, and dopamine – as well as reducing cortisol levels which has a calming effect on both the mood and the cardiovascular system.

Sarah McCaffrey said: “It is genuinely heart-warming to see how much joy our residents get from contact with Sandra’s pets: many of them used to be pet-owners themselves, so the visits prompt a lot of happy reminiscences and laughter.

“We really appreciate Sandra’s kindness in bringing them into work and sharing them with our residents, and they evidently appreciate it too.”

The animal visits are part of a busy activity programme at Butterfly Lodge which is run by award-winning dementia care specialists Camelot Care. The group has just opened a second home in Devon, Deer Park Nursing Home in Holsworthy, and operates three further homes in Somerset.