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Guaranteed this is the most wholesome story you'll see today, and it includes puppies. Yes, residents at a Birkenhead nursing home were joined by some four-legged visitors this week, as dogs from a local doggy daycare visited them.
Residents at Lezayre Nursing Home in Egerton Park spent Tuesday afternoon in the home's garden at a Puppy Party, according to Birkenhead News. The event brought together residents, their family, staff, and of course, some furry friends from Happy Dogs Dog Boarding Wirral.
On Facebook, the care home posted some photos of dog biscuits and bubbles with the caption, "Preparations for our puppy pawty tomorrow are well underway!" They also got to work creating mini puppy party bags and decorating mini kennels.
The dogs spent the afternoon being petted, snuggled, and walked around the garden, giving residents the chance to enjoy the companionship of animals.
Research has shown that animal-assisted activity is beneficial for older people, particularly those in care homes, as they say spending time with dogs reduces anxiety, lowers blood pressure, and improves mood through social interaction. This kind of puppy play is believed to be particularly helpful for those suffering from dementia.
One family member said his mum had been talking about the event all weekend and was looking forward to it – and, having joined her in the garden on the day, he could see she had thoroughly enjoyed it.
Nicola Willet, Home Manager at Lezayre Nursing Home, said: "The smiles on our residents' faces said it all. For many of our residents, dogs were a huge part of their lives before they came to live with us, and events like this bring back wonderful memories. We're so grateful to Leanne and the team at Happy Dogs for bringing the dogs along, and to the families who joined us to make it such a special afternoon."
Leanne Murphy, owner of Happy Dogs Dog Boarding Wirral, said the dogs "had just as much fun as the residents", and added she loved seeing the connections between the dogs and residents.
The Puppy Party is part of Lezayre Nursing Home's ongoing programme of activities designed to keep residents connected to the things they love, and the home hopes to make it a regular fixture in its events calendar.
