Latest news with #Pets as Therapy
Times
5 days ago
- General
- Times
Train operator introduces onboard therapy dog for passengers
One of the country's least punctual train operators is using a therapy dog to cheer up passengers and staff. TransPennine Express (TPE) has become the first operator to take a designated animal on journeys to improve the wellbeing of its customers. Nya, a six-year-old German shepherd, is owned and trained by a member of staff, but has been certified as a therapy dog by the charity Pets as Therapy. The train operator, which has been owned by the government since 2023, was ranked the second-least punctual service at the start of this year. Only 47.5 per cent of its journeys came in on time. Nya completed training to become a therapy dog SWNS It also had the second-highest percentage of services cancelled over the same period, more than two fifths of which were attributed to faults by the operator. Stephen O'Callaghan, TPE's safeguarding and crime prevention lead and Nya's owner, said: 'I've had dogs most of my life and have always been a dog lover. I've always recognised the strong connection that dogs can have on improving people's wellbeing and the natural calming abilities that they bring to people as well as the social interaction that they provide.' The operator, which runs services in northern England and Scotland, said the dog offered a 'tail-wagging welcome' to passengers and provided a 'way for them to destress while travelling'. It added: 'She's also lending a paw to staff wellbeing, supporting mental health in the workplace.' Stephen O'Callaghan says dogs have 'natural calming abilities' SWNS O'Callaghan said: 'Nya is now officially qualified to perform visits and she has received such positive response, with dozens of travellers and colleagues stopping to say hello. 'I'm so proud that TPE is the first ever train operator to have its own therapy dog and I'd love to see this rolled out across the rest of the railway.' Nya 'spreads happiness on the rail network', he said. 'She really does put a smile on people's face'. O'Callaghan takes the dog on walks to meet staff and the public at stations around the network. 'We all know it can be stressful at times, so dogs on the rail network are only a good thing in my opinion', he said.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Britain's first railway therapy dog starts work helping anxious passengers
Britain's first therapy dog working for a rail company, six-year-old German Shepherd Nya, has begun helping passengers reduce anxiety on TransPennine Express trains. Owned by former police officer Stephen O'Callaghan, Nya visits stations across the country, engaging with passengers and staff to improve mood and social interaction. Registered with Pets as Therapy, she is trained to stay calm, accept pats, and even perform tricks, making her both effective and entertaining. Her success has inspired other train companies, including Northern, to consider introducing therapy dogs on their services.
