Rufus the dog gets nominated for two awards for his therapeutic talents

Rufus the dog gets nominated for two awards for his therapeutic talents

A popular dog from Kendal who comforts vulnerable people in the town has been nominated for two awards.

Rufus, a six year-old Schnauzer, regularly visits people at the Stonham Riverview project in Lound Road and keeps everyone up to date with his life through his Dog’s Blog.

The Stonham Riverview project provides a safe and supportive home for up to 12 people with a diverse range of needs. Its clients come from a wide background and include people who have been homeless, have learning disabilities and who have suffered or are suffering from mental illness.

Rufus’s furry and friendly presence around the service has led him to being nominated for two awards.

He has been put forward in the Diversity and Amazing New Idea categories for the Home Star Awards which Stonham is involved in.

Rufus visits the service as part of the Pets As Therapy scheme. This national charity makes it possible for well trained and fully vaccinated cats and dogs to visit services like Stonham Riverview and also hospices, special needs schools and old peoples’ homes providing comfort, companionship and therapy.

Rufus is no novice when it comes to awards having won second place in his class at Crufts in 2004.

Stonham Project Worker and Rufus’s owner, Tracy Robinson said: “Everyone loves Rufus. He attends our client meetings and he has been invaluable at these, especially for nervous clients.

“We have found that when clients attend and are nervous at the beginning, he goes to those people and they start to stroke him. This takes their mind off their nervousness and helps them to settle into the situation. Using the sixth sense dogs seem to have, he leaves them alone when he thinks they are ok and then goes to sleep.”

A resident of Riverview said: “Rufus is a gentle dog and very friendly. I am grateful he is available to Stonham services. As a person with mental health problems I often feel down. Rufus cheers me up and makes me feel better about myself.”

The Stonham Riverview project provides a safe and supportive home for up to 12 people with a diverse range of needs. Its clients come from a wide background and include people who have been homeless and who have suffered or are suffering from mental illness.

For more information call Jerry Lyons on 020 8582 2287

For further information on Pets As Therapy visit www.petsastherapy.org