A hare-raising good time! Woking residents enjoy an afternoon with animals

A local care home welcomed some unusual guests to its garden for residents to indulge in an animal therapy session. 

Care UK’s Kingsleigh, on Kingfield Road, added a guinea pig, rabbit and pony to its guest list for the afternoon. Residents and team members enjoyed learning about each animal – including what their preferred food and environment is – while enjoying cuddles with some of the furry guests. 

The adorable visitors were provided by Boonies Pet Therapy, an animal sanctuary based in Chobam. 

Commenting on the day, resident Dorothy Lambert said: “This was such a treat for us all! I have always had pets from an early age, and this brought back many memories of them all. Just spending a couple of hours in their company makes such a difference.”

Kelly Kelleher, Home Manager at Kingsleigh, said: “This was such a memorable experience for the residents and team members. We are always looking to host fun and creative activities that offer residents an experience that they may not have done for a while. It was wonderful to see the smiles on residents’ faces as they experienced the different animals and heard more about them.  

“Being in the company of furry creatures has proven therapeutic benefits for older people – particularly for those living with dementia – as it can reduce anxiety, release calming endorphins and decrease feelings of loneliness. You could see from the residents’ reactions just how engaged they were when given the opportunity to be in the company of these different animals. 

“We look forward to welcoming Boonies Pet Therapy back again with even more creatures of all shapes and sizes – they certainly bring a lot of joy and comfort to everyone’s hearts at Kingsleigh.” 

Kingsleigh has been designed to deliver the very best standards of care and to enable residents to live active and fulfilled lives. The home provides residential, respite and specialist dementia care, surrounded by beautiful gardens in a quiet residential area of Surrey.

To find out more about Kingsleigh please call 01483 331948 or email Home Manager, Kelly Kelleher, at kelly.kelleher@careuk.com.

For more general information, please visit careuk.com/kingsleigh.