Heart to Heart Animal Therapy

30/06/2019

14/03/2019

13/06/2018

Artisan Cheese Making course to raise funds for our Animal assisted therapy programme.

27/06/2017

As part of our charitable organisation, we would like to expand our services to those who cannot come to us.

If you would like to assist us in our goal, any donations are greatly appreciated.

If you would like to donate, you can do so directly at my PayPal (email: snowy1359@xtra.co.nz).

If you have any materials or items you would like to donate to us, please contact us via phone or email to discuss.

Visit us at our other page - Donkey Assisted Therapy! https://www.facebook.com/Heart-to-Heart-333187440431020/

17/06/2017

The Team Members of Heart to Heart Animal Therapy

15/06/2017

Meet the Team:

Daisy....is a 12 year old Labrador Retriever who has worked as my training dog for my dog behaviour consultancy. When I retired her we decided to go for assessment for Canine assisted therapy and Daisy has been working with disabled children, autistic children and adults and with dementia patients...she also enjoys visiting the residents at Rest Homes....
Daisy is a placid girl who is very wise and tuned into people with disabilities. She also is a wonderful calming influence with children with anxiety issues.

Blossom...is a ten year old Golden Retriever who despite having a severe hip problem still works with children with anxiety issues...she is a gentle and placid girl who just loves people but especially children. She makes children feel relaxed and always manages to put a smile on their face. We are currently trying to raise funds to have Blossoms hips operated on so if you feel you'd like to contribute to her surgery just contact us for more details at animalassistedtherapy@gmail.com

Nutmeg....is a 10 year old Australian Kellie who came to us as a rescue dog through our rescue and rehoming service we ran in Australia. She suffers from anxiety problems herself but transforms when she is around people with disabilities and anxiety...she is calm and comforting and likes nothing more than sitting with people and she will never betray a secret told in confidence by a troubled child...

Phillie.....is a 10 year old Border Collie who came to us at the age of 11 months again through our rescue service....she came to us as a shell of a dog having been stolen from her breeder and the ordeal left her emotionally scarred....however she has made a remarkable recovery and her shyness gives a reluctant child a confidence they may not normally have...she is gentle and placid and a great asset to our programme..

Cachou....is a six month old Birman kitten....she is a gentle, friendly and has a super soft coat which the Dementia patients find a great comfort to stroke....she brings great joy to the elderly residents and her sapphire blue eyes melt hearts. Many of the patients have often had a cat at home before coming into the unit and seeing Cachou every week and having her sit on their knee for them to stroke brings comfort and great responses...

Tulip....is a 9 year old Toggenburg goat who bleats when you call her name and just loves working with Autistic children and she has got very used to the wheelchairs...she always comes to greet them when they arrive and she enjoys being patted and stroked just as much as the children enjoy interacting with her...

Muffin...is an 11 year old Saanen goat who is herself disabled but she just loves children and stands patiently whilst they pat and stroke her....she also loves it when the children brush her which is a great therapy for them and a special treat for her...

Vanilla.....is a 13 year old Labrador Retriever who came to us through our Rescue Service...she started out as a very shy girl who hid from people as she had been abused by her previous owner...hard to understand as Vanilla is the sweetest and most gentle girl and is so obedient and respectful...these traits shine through even more now that she has learned that anxious children are just as shy as she is...when the children hear Vanilla's story they realise that she knows how they feel and it helps them to relax with her...it is that empathy which gives the children confidence.

15/06/2017

Heart to Heart Animal Assisted Therapy and Heart to Heart Donkey Assisted Therapy was born out of our dealings with animals over many years. My experience as an Animal Behaviorist coupled with my passion for people with disabilities and anxiety problems seemed a natural thing for me to put the two together.

Knowing the empathy animals have for people who struggle with feelings that often put them on the fringes of society has meant that we have been seeing lives changed and smiles on faces that had forgotten how to smile; the interaction with the animals has been bringing amazing results.

It is such a privilege to work with these wonderful people and I am so proud of my amazing animals and their gentle ways with the people who come to us or who we go to. It is the greatest honour of my life to have the opportunity to put animals and humans together in this way!

We are constantly working to extend the programme and are always developing new activities that help to make the most of the new relationships being forged.

The logo we chose and the name are both special as we see the missing pieces of life being placed back into the puzzle by means of empathy and relationship... a real Heart to Heart connection!