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Care home residents delighted by donkey visit

Ben Marvell & Rhiannon YhnellBristol
News imageBBC A man, wearing jeans and a navy blue t-shirt, bends his back and head towards a donkey in a greeting. His two hands are placed either side of the donkey's head. The donkey is wearing blue reins and a lanyard which says 'visitor' on it. In the background are a number of elderly ladies sitting down talking to each other.BBC
Residents were given the opportunity to pet animals including guinea pigs, donkeys and rabbits

Residents of a care home said they were delighted when animals from a petting zoo were brought to their centre.

Animal rescue company Kelly's Donkeys brought the therapy animals to the Orders of St John Care Trust (OSJCT) Grace Care Centre, in Thornbury, in South Gloucestershire, on Friday.

Resident Anthony Salisbury said the visit was "wonderful" and it brought "back memories that I had when I was a kid".

"I grew up with horses when I was a child," he continued. "I am an animal lover."

The therapy animals from Kelly's Donkeys visit the care home a few times and year, giving the residents a chance to interact with animals.

News imageA close up photo of a donkey wearing blue reins and a lanyard. It also has a red piece of fabric wrapped across its back. In the background, an elderly white-haired lady sits in a wheelchair and a number of other adults are either sitting or milling around.
Barney the donkey was popular with the residents

The trust said the animal visits "are a popular activity" at the facility and they provided "numerous benefits for care home residents, especially those living with dementia", including lowering blood pressure and reducing anxiety.

News imageAn elderly woman wearing glasses and a lime green cardigan pets a donkey wearing blue reins and a lanyard in a care home. Another elderly woman watches while a man stands behind the donkey holding its reins.
The animals visit the residents several times a year

"It's just amazing to see the reaction from all of them," said Peter Bendall, whose mother-in-law lives at the care home.

"No matter how severe their case is, the way they engage and stroke their animals, you can see the smile on their face and it lifts them."

News imageAn elderly woman with dyed light brown hair smiles at the camera while the man on the right (who's head we cannot see) holds a white basket with a guinea pig inside it. In the background, on a table, is a gingham table cloth and an assortment of small pumpkins.
Staff at the care home say the animal visits bring joy to the residents

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