Five new dogs bring smiles to people with expansion of company's CareBark service
This brings the total number of CareBark dogs to ten.
The new recruits, Shadow, Kyro, and Wren (all Labradors), Blue (Cockapoo), and Marley (Labradoodle), join the existing team of Labradors - Red, Chance, Emmie, and Axel, and Cockapoo Wilma.
The dogs and their seven human handlers visit customers' homes across the Redcar and Cleveland area, and are integrated into customers' assessed need care packages.
The dogs support customers with mental health and wellbeing, prevent loneliness, and provide motivation to get them moving and into the community.
The service also works with schools, colleges, day centres, care homes, and Caremark's Safe Place activity-led day centre, in Redcar.
Caremark Redcar and Cleveland managing director Michelle Jackson, who owns the dogs and established the service, said: "We only set up the service in 2023 and have been overwhelmed by the positive response to the dogs and to see the major impact they are having on people's lives across our area.
"We are achieving some amazing outcomes for people.
"The dogs have helped people leave their houses for the first time in years, brought joy to children with life-limiting conditions, and are helping people to meet new friends through their shared interests and love of a dog."
One organisation that benefits from regular contact with the dogs is Prior Pursglove College, in Guisborough.
Students with special educational needs in the Endeavour Faculty at the college participated in a fundraising event which helped to pay for sessions with the dogs.
One of the students, Hamza, said: "I am very scared of dogs so I kept my distance initially but once I got to know them, especially Kyro, I was fine and really enjoyed being with them."
Another student, Rob, said: "We were able to take the dogs outside and play with them, which was great."
Prior Pursglove tutor Helen Beadnall said: "When the dogs were here everyone was smiling and wanted to come over to them.
"It got the students very relaxed and focused and it brought them lots of joy.
"We have one young man who has difficulty regulating his emotions and can use inappropriate language, but when he was with the dogs, he didn't swear once and we saw the very best side of his personality, which was wonderful to witness."
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The CareBark service is a chargeable service due to Caremark employing the dog handlers and not relying on volunteers.
The service can be contracted via Redcar and Cleveland Council as part of an assessed need, or paid for privately for anyone else wishing to use the service.
People in the community who are interested in the dogs coming to their home, care home, day centre, or any other venue can contact Caremark on 01287 634706 or email redcar@caremark.co.uk.
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