Lancashire Teaching Hospitals therapy dog, Dr Riggs has been shortlisted for a BBC Radio Lancashire ‘Make a Difference’ Award in the animal category.
Dr Riggs was shortlisted for the award from over 1,000 entries and his owner, Linzi Bannister is a very proud dog mum.
Speaking about the award nomination, Linzi said: “I’m absolutely amazed but super proud that we’ve been nominated for a ‘Make a Difference’ award. I didn’t know anything about the nomination until we had received the e-mail from Sarah, the Volunteers Manager. Not only is it great news for us as a family; it’s great recognition for the ‘Pets as Therapy’ charity team and the brilliant work they do.”
Dr Riggs and his owner Linzi were nominated for the award by LTH Volunteers Manager, Sarah Allen, for the brilliant work they do every week providing support to patients and staff on the wards at Chorley and South Ribble Hospital.
Dr Riggs, a beautiful Sussex Spaniel, is a regular and popular visitor to several wards at Chorley including Leyland Ward, the Breast Care Unit, and Rookwood A, amongst many others. The pair visit the hospital each Wednesday for two hours and the work they do makes a big difference to patients and visitors. Dr Riggs provides great comfort and support to patients during their hospital visit or stay, lifting their spirits and helping to reduce anxiety.
Linzi and Dr Riggs started volunteering on the wards at Chorley after Linzi’s own experience as a patient at the hospital, where she received chemotherapy and radiotherapy treatment.
Linzi explains how the pair come to join the hospital as volunteers: “We started volunteering at Chorley at the start of last year. You can tell whether a dog has the right temperament and whether they like people or not – and Dr Riggs definitely does. He was a brilliant support to me when I was undergoing treatment and I’m happy to share him with the patients and staff at Chorley. He’s a very popular boy and I smile for the whole two hours we come to the hospital. I love it – and so does Dr Riggs. It’s his weekly ego boost. He gets lots of treats and fuss from the patients and staff.
“Sometimes, we meet people who have had some bad news and he can be a welcome distraction for them. If we go onto a ward where people are not really talking to each other, we will go in and when we leave, we find them chatting to each other. He makes people happy.”
Dr Riggs often meets patients that are experiencing an anxious wait for their appointment or those that are missing their own pets or loved ones at home during their hospital stay. For a few brief moments, they can forget their anxiety and enjoy some comfort and support from Dr Riggs.
Linzi and Dr Riggs have been invited to attend an awards ceremony at Lancaster Town Hall in September, where they will find out if they have won the ‘Make a Difference’ award. We wish them the very best of luck!
You can listen to the full intreview on the Graham Liver show, from the 20th August, available on BBC sounds; the interview begins at the 2 hours and 20 minutes mark.
