The benefits of animal companionship for human wellbeing are proven. Pets keep us active and help us to ‘de-stress’; they provide an opportunity to nurture and care for another being. They provide unconditional love and stability in an increasingly complex world.
For many of us, pets are much loved companions but for vulnerable or isolated people, they are an immensely important lifeline to help stem loneliness and depression. They provide friendship, security and continuity if the relationship is appropriate, mutually beneficial and well supported.
The people within the Our Special Friends community are the eyes and the ears for the hidden vulnerable, both human and animal and our role is to collaborate with other support agencies to change lives for the better.
Based on her own life experience, vet Belinda (Bin) Johnston set up Our Special Friends to help people to benefit from animal companionship through difficult of times.
You can listen to Bin’s story here.
