Dog trained to help dementia patients seeks new home
Jon and Jeanette King with labrador Lenny
- Published
A dog trained to help those living with dementia is looking for a new home.
It is hoped the young labrador could be placed with someone who is at a mild stage of dementia and living with a full-time, unpaid carer in greater Glasgow.
The Dementia Dog project said the animal could help its future companion with their daily routine.
It will be the 10th time the team has found a home for a dog since the initiative launched in 2014.
The project, a collaboration between Alzheimer Scotland and Dogs for Good, said the animals "create a sense of purpose and playfulness" while also helping with tasks such as fetching medication.
They also have full public access rights, unlike pet dogs, to provide reassurance and support in busy and unfamiliar environments.
Some of the animals have gone on to retrain as "activity dogs" in Alzheimer Scotland's dementia resource centres.
They also take part in a range of events such as "doggy bingo" - where they "call out" the numbers - as well as scavenger hunts and art-themed sessions.
Lenny 'brought joy'
Jon and Jeanette King were matched with Lenny in 2018
It is thought as many as 90,000 people across Scotland are affected by dementia.
Black labrador Lenny was matched with Jon and Jeannette King in Dunbar, East Lothian, in 2018.
Mrs King told how she "brought joy" to the couple's lives before Mr King died in January 2021, almost five years after his diagnosis.
Mrs King said: "It wasn't so much the practical things that Lenny did for Jon - it was the light he brought into our lives as we embarked on this new experience together.
"Lenny made us laugh and smile, providing companionship and comfort when Jon was alone or feeling low."
The couple had not heard of the scheme before Lenny joined the family.
He now works as an "activity dog" but Mrs King said she wanted others to feel the same love they did in Mr King's final years.
"Friends commented on how sociable Jon had become after years of preferring solitude.
"Those years were filled with unexpected happiness, instead of the downward spiral we'd dreaded."
Those interested in having the dog join their family can apply on the Dementia Dog website, external.