St John and SPCA run a animal therapy session at Northbridge Rest Home. Photo / Michael Craig
St John and SPCA run a animal therapy session at Northbridge Rest Home. Photo / Michael Craig
Sometimes you just need someone to listen - even if that someone is a ball of fluff that hits snooze for two thirds of its life.
For an elderly man so upset about moving into a rest home that he stopped talking, that listener was a moggy named Amadeus.
Amadeus - one of hundreds of therapy animals used to bring joy to those in need in the past 20 years - did such a good job he even got the rest home menu changed.
The British blue was owned by Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) Auckland executive director Bob Kerridge and was put on the lap of the distraught man.
"[The man] hadn't spoken for four weeks, but he started talking.
"He said, 'You know, Amadeus, I'm a bit of a miserable bugger. I'm not very happy but I think I should start being a bit more friendly to people'," Kerridge said.
"He also disclosed to Amadeus that the meals were a bit bland on Thursdays. That was conveyed to the cat and [the rest home] took action.
Amadeus has long since died, but animal therapy goes on.
Photo / Michael Craig
Herald on Sunday
photographer Michael Craig joined Kerridge and dozens of therapy animals at Northbridge Residential Home and Hospital to capture the delight they bring to those in need.
The SPCA works with St John to take the animals into rest homes, hospitals and hospices.
"It's a programme that has become very much more sophisticated because of that partnership with St John," Kerridge said.
Photo / Michael Craig
And the programme has extended far beyond its canine beginnings - almost all domesticated animals, and some farm animals, have since been recruited.
This included chickens, goats, llamas and even donkeys - who could bring laughter simply by being their sometimes-stubborn selves, Kerridge said.
"It really is a wonderful programme. There are some lovely encounters."
Image 1 of 11: St John and SPCA run a animal therapy session at Northbridge Rest Home hospital wing. Photo / Michael Craig
