England : Friday, 19 November 2010 (Local Time)
The canine Croydon Champion is decicates his award to all of the patients he has visited over the past 8 years at Mayday Hospital.
Hamish MacFee, 10, has devoted his dog days to helping others; working as a Pets As Therapy dog, teaching children to cross the road safety and helping others overcome their fear of dogs.
The West Highland terrier won the Community Champion category at the Croydon Champions last Thursday.
He was also named Pets as Therapy dog of the year’s Crufts dog show in March.
The little hero was honoured for all of his hard work in the physiotherapy and stroke units at Mayday Hospital.
His owner Barry Crossby said: “Hamish is dedicating his award to all the patients he has visited over the last 8 years in Mayday Hospital but especially a wonderful man named John, who Hamish visited over several months following a severe stroke he had.”
“John was a greater lover of dogs and every week Hamish sat alongside him. As the week passed you could see the bond between them getting stronger. John’s wife went to the hospital every day but on a Wednsday she even had to wait outside the ward whilst Hamish was visiting.”
The patient was moved to a nursing home and Hamish’s owners Barry and Margaret found out that he died a while later.
Mrs Crossby said: “Several months later we happened to see John’s wife and she thanked Hamish for all the visits he had made to John which helped him to cope. She went on to say that because John loved Hamish so much they put a picture of Hamish in his coffin so he would still be with him.”
“I think that sums up what Pets as Therapy is all about and long may Hamish continue to bring joy to others he visits”
Story and Foto from : www.thisislocallondon.co.uk (reported by Kirsty Whalley)
