Site favourite Merida to train as a therapy dog

Merida's therapy dog training is being sponsored by SEH French and Holmes Plant & Construction

A rescue dog that overcame anxiety by cheering up the builders at her owner's work is to put her new-found talents into therapy.

Steve Leggett, from Suffolk, took in fox red Labrador, Merida, several years ago from a home where she had not been trained or socialised properly.

In 2023, he decided to take Merida to work with him on building sites across the county - where she gained confidence and delighted his co-workers.

Seeing her thrive with his colleagues, Mr Leggett said it had inspired him to start training her as a therapy dog.

"I could see that there was something in her that needed to be brought out and I fell in love with her," he said.

Steve Leggett was inspired to train Merida as a therapy dog after she delighted his co-workers

"It took a long time for her to get used to being with people," Mr Leggett said.

"I've had dogs most of my life and sort of got to the stage in my life where I was looking for something else."

He asked for permission to bring Merida to work, and his employer Holmes Plant & Construction agreed.

"I'm very lucky because my boss Ben Holmes is a country boy and they love animals," Mr Leggett continued.

"So he gave me permission to take her to work with me, then very luckily I met people like Neil [Pryke] from SEH French who I asked and they said, 'Of course you can'.

"Because she's so well behaved and so brilliant, they even built a purpose-built pen here for her to be on site with me."

Steve Leggett said Merida's progress made her the perfect candidate to become a therapy dog

Mr Leggett's colleagues often are found in his van playing and spending time with Merida.

In August she took some time away from the building sites when she was diagnosed with cataracts in both eyes, but underwent successful surgery and was back on site several months later.

Mr Leggett said seeing the effect his dog had had on people had led him to start training her as a therapy dog, which he said has been going very well.

"I just love her to bits, it's as simple as that," Mr Leggett added.

"She's fun, she's loving, she's got her work mode and when she's is engaged she's just incredible.

"I don't think there's a proper word for her, amazing doesn't sum her up.

"This has given me something more to live for."