Speaker meeting via Zoom with Belinda Johnston of Our Special Friends

It is well documented that the special relationships between people and animals can be mutually life-enhancing, and at times even life-saving. For the lonely, the ill, and other people at vulnerable times in their lives, access to animal companionship can have enormous impact.  It can bring a sense of comfort and safety, reduce anxiety and may decrease the need for reliance on other services. 

Our Special Friends is an ambitious and innovative West Suffolk based charity which has grown out of a desire to support people who are struggling in a range of situations and where animal companionship plays an important role in helping them to cope. Over the last eight years, a growing team of employees and volunteers has provided support in over a thousand cases, coordinating person-centred care and delivering a wide range of human-animal support services. 

•      Supporting people in looking after their own pets

• Arranging for fostering to reunite 

• Bereavement support following the loss of a pet

• Helping with the placement of a new pet

• Financial assistance 

• Volunteer visiting with their own dogs bringing animal companionship to people without pets.