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Special guest: Resthome resident Marjorie Lhonneux gives Jazz a pat on the head with SPCA promoter Sue McDonald at Kamo Home and Village.

Resthome visits brighten residents day

Reprinted with permission from The Whangarei Leader

Four-legged, furry creatures are not the usual visitors to a resthome but they are some of the most eagerly awaited in Whangarei.
For the past five years Whangarei SPCA has been taking animals to visit resthome residents.

The first Wednesday of every month Kamo Home and Village welcomes the special guests. SPCA volunteer June Tattersall has been taking her six-year-old dog Jazz to the home since the programme started. Ms Tattersall says there is one resident which he looks for every visit, 86-year-old Marjorie Lhonneux.
Mrs Lhonneux says ever since she was 11 she has owned a dog, that was until she moved into the home which does not allow pets. This is why she always looks forward to a visit from Jazz.

Miss Tattersall says Jazz also loves to visit the residents. She says during the summer holidays she can tell Jazz is disappointed when they do not go visiting the rest homes.

The other frequent SPCA visitor is Zippi, a guinea pig.
SPCA centre promoter Sue McDonald says Zippi will sit on the residents laps and talk to them.

The idea to bring the animals to rest homes around Whangarei was started by Kamo Home and Village therapist Aleisha Dobson.
"You can really see their eyes light up when they see the animals," says Miss Dobson. "They always know when it is the first Wednesday and the animals are coming."