Resources

Inner Peace

If you can start the day without caffeine

If you can always be cheerful, ignoring aches and pains

If you can resist complaining and boring people with your troubles

If you can eat the same food every day and be grateful for it

If you can understand when your loved ones are too busy to give you any time

If you can take criticism and blame without resentment

If you can conquer tension without liquor

If you can sleep without the aid of drugs

…then you are probably the family dog

Useful links

The Society for Companion Animal Studies (SCAS)

https://www.scas.org.uk/human-animal-bond
The Society for Companion Animal Studies is a leading charity in the UK in the field of the human animal bond.

Assistance Dogs UK

https://www.assistancedogs.org.uk
Assistance Dogs UK is a collection of organisations (Guide Dogs, Hearing Dogs for Deaf People, Dogs for the Disabled, Canine Partners, Support Dogs, Dog AID) providing life changing assistance through specially trained dogs.

Pets as Therapy

https://www.petsastherapy.org
Pets as Therapy visit hospitals and other institutions. You can register for a volunteer to visit or become a volunteer yourself.

Therapet

https://www.canineconcernscotland.org.uk/therapet
Therapet for those in Scotland, who might like to volunteer to visit with their dog.

Cinnamon Trust

https://www.cinnamon.org.uk
Cinnamon Trust provides practical help for your pets if you are elderly or terminally ill and unable to look after them. There is also long term care for pets whose owners have died.

Dogs for Good

https://www.dogsforgood.org
Dogs for Good creates exceptional partnerships between people living with disability and specially trained assistance dogs.

IAHAIO

https://www.iahaio.org
IAHAIO is an organisation drawing together many associations in the human-animal interaction (HAI) field, who are working in research, education, and practice of HAI.

HABRI Foundation

https://habri.org
The Human Animal Bond Research Initiative (HABRI) Foundation is a non-profit research and education organization that is gathering, funding and sharing scientific research to demonstrate the positive health impacts of companion animals.

Care plans for your animals

Please find attached our Dog and Cat CVs and our Advanced Care Plans to assist you when planning what should happen with your pets in the eventuality that you can no longer look after them yourself.

A10 Dog CV for OSF cases
A12 Cat CV
S2 Advance Care Plan DOG
S9 Advance Care Plan CAT

Useful Resources during the Coronavirus Crisis

We are collating some useful resources that people are bringing to our attention to help those who are trying to come to terms with the effects of the corona virus. Whilst we are unable to vist the majority of our clients, we are available on-line at office@ourspecialfriends.org to signpost you to where you might be able to find help or call us on 01284 335 351.

NHS – Every Mind Matters
Elefriends – Elefriends is a supportive online community where you can be yourself. We all know what it’s like to struggle sometimes, but now there’s a safe place to listen, share and be heard.
Qwell – Online counselling and well-being for adults
Comfort in Crisis – Advice for pet owners
Samaritans – Practical ways to help yourself cope
Community Action Suffolk – Coronavirus update

As we hear of support and advice that we feel may be of interest to you in this current crisis, we will post them on this section of our website and keep you updated on our Facebook page.