PAT (Pets as Therapy) 
Every year Eastcott Vets support a pet charity. Last year we supported Canine Partners a charity that provides assistance dogs for the disabled,. This year we are supporting PAT (Pets as Therapy). We know all about PAT dogs and our vet Richard Gowshall is a PAT dog assessor but we were not aware that PAT use PAT cats too!
Pets As Therapy is a national charity founded in 1983. It is a community based charity providing therapeutic visits to hospitals, hospices, nursing and care homes, special needs schools and a variety of other establishments from volunteers with their pet dogs and cats.
Since its beginning over 28,000 dogs have become registered PAT dogs. Every year some of these wonderful dogs need to retire and new dogs, having first passed a health, temperament, and suitably assessment, join Pets As Therapy.
Today there are over 5,000 active PAT dogs & a smaller number of PAT cats working throughout the UK. Every week visiting PAT teams bring comfort and companionship to 1,000’s of people, both young and old, by giving them the opportunity to stroke, hold and talk to one of these calm and friendly dogs and cats.
Pets As Therapy also provide individual animal assisted therapy (AAT), working with stroke patients and people with dog phobias.
The Charity’s Read2Dogs programme helps children in classroom settings improve their reading ability by helping to increase their confidence and enjoyment of reading.
