“Every time we go anywhere George makes people smile - and because I volunteer with North West Hospice, I thought this is perfect,” explained Geraldine Fowley, outlining how her therapy dog George started visiting North West Hospice in Sligo as part of the hospice’s Dog Therapy Initiative.

“I thought I need to do something because I retired and I thought wouldn’t the hospice be nice?” she said. So we try to come in once a week and I really think people enjoy him.” Not only does Geraldine volunteer at the reception but she also runs the volunteer trolley service once a week. George is a five-year-old chorkie who enjoys his days out.

Describing volunteering at North West Hospice, Geraldine outlined how “you get great satisfaction out of it. You know you are helping out and that’s the most important thing. And when people come in to see their loved ones and you just have that little smile for them and you’ve empathy, not sympathy, for why they are here, it’s lovely.”

George is aided in his volunteering endeavours by eleven-year-old collie Alfie. His own Anne Stevenson explains that Two dog therapy volunteers are currently offering comfort and support to patients at North West Hospice in Sligo.

Alfie’s owner Anne Stevenson explains why her lovable Collie started visiting patients, care of Irish Therapy Dogs: “Alfie is a rescue dog. He was dumped on our doorstep. We were only meant to foster him but he had such an affectionate nature that he wrangled his way into the house and decided never to leave. He has this ability to find people who need a hug.”

Alfie started visiting the Rehab Unit in St John’s Community Hospital, Sligo in 2017 and after that he started visiting North West Hospice. He now visits patients once a week.

Anne adds: “I always check if the patients want to meet him. Anyone that meets him loves him. But sometimes he will spend more time with the relatives, because sometimes the relatives need the comfort more than the patient. He’s a really nice natured dog.”

Nuala Ginnelly, Operational Lead for North West Hospice, explains the importance of the volunteer programme: “Our volunteers are an integral part of our North West Hospice team, offering supports in many areas of the hospice including reception cover, gardening, flower arranging, holistic therapies and more recently the dog therapy programme. All of these initiatives not only support the patients and families but significantly support our staff in their day to day work.”

Cathy Quinlan, Volunteer Coordinator, North West Hospice, adds that she has the  “absolute pleasure of working directly with all of the volunteers in our North West Hospice site. Every day I get to talk to these lovely people, hear their beautiful stories, share in their volunteering experience, support them with anything that they need to carry out their volunteering, and get to know the amazing people that they are. And now, I get to give loads of cuddles to Alfie and George. The volunteer group are very special to the North West Hospice.”

The Hospice is currently looking for volunteers to help as charity shop assistants, event and fundraising helpers, reception, admin support and for hairdressing and holistic therapies.

Whether anyone has a few hours a week or more, they would love to hear from them. For further information check out North West Hospice