Providing ‘a calming presence’

Miniature Groodle Lottie supports young people with eating disorders through Liv’s Loving Paws, a program developed with The Alfred and Delta Therapy Dogs and founded by Robb Evans in memory of his daughter.  

Lottie’s job is to provide social connection and comfort to her younger human pals receiving mental health support.  

Along with her four legged colleagues, she’s been so successful that The Alfred’s child and youth mental health service has developed an additional dog therapy program.   

Thanks to some generous donations, a formal partnership with Delta Therapy Dogs has been established to deliver Collaborative Animal Assisted Therapy (C-AAT) for the next two years. Clinicians will work alongside specially assessed and trained therapy dog teams to support the clinical care of some young people aged 12 and above. 

Clinical Group Specialist Rachel Marsden said there are plans for therapy dogs to help with group sessions too.  

“They’ll be included in a social connection group for adolescents with mental health difficulties,” Rachel said.  

“Having a therapy dog in these settings provides a calming presence that helps with healing and recovery.”