Cuddly Harry visits care homes to provide TLC for residents
A llama who visits Devon care homes with his owner to provide animal therapy for the residents is among the finalists for a BBC Devon ‘Make A Difference‘ award, writes Philippa Davies.
Harry the llama is owned by Maggie Jee of Peak Hill Llamas in Sidmouth which offers walks and ‘experiences’ with the gentle animals on site.
For several years Maggie has also been taking the llamas into residential homes and schools for children with special needs. This year she set up a Community Interest Company ‘Llamas4Good’ to provide more therapeutic visits.
She nominated Harry for the BBC award to raise the profile of llamas as therapy animals.
‘Our specially selected and trained therapy llamas are really well suited to care home visits as they are incredibly calm and gentle and love interacting with people,’ explains Maggie.
‘They are incredibly calming to be around – stroking their soft fleece can even help to lower blood pressure. They don’t kick or bite (or spit!) and have very clean toilet habits as they prefer to wait until they can use outdoor facilities!’
‘In addition their fleece is hypo-allergenic, containing no lanolin or dander, so there are no problems with allergies.’
‘Harry is a particularly good therapy llama – he loves to be cuddled and has an uncanny way of knowing exactly what he needs to do to help each person he meets.’
Harry the llama is among the finalists for a BBC Devon ‘Make A Difference’ award. Image: Maggie Jee, Peak Hill Llamas in Sidmouth.
Harry helps to make ‘special memories for families’
‘He happily visits residents who are unable to leave their rooms, and goes right to the bedsides of anyone who is bedridden so they can benefit from stroking his fleece.’
‘He has also helped to make special memories for families of those on end-of-life care by interacting with the whole family at their loved one’s bedside.’
The BBC Make A Difference Awards are in their third year and aim to ‘recognise and celebrate people who genuinely make a difference in communities.’
This is the first year that the awards have included an animal category. The three other finalists for the BBC Devon award are The Seal Project in Brixham, the UK Wild Otter Trust in Umberleigh and Hedwigs Hedgehog Hotel in Bideford.
The winners of the BBC Devon awards will be announced at a ceremony on Wednesday, 25 September.
