Animal lovers know how the presence of dogs has a positive effect on our mental health and research has proved it as well. With this in mind, Woodrock Animal Rescue started a pilot project with Discovery South Africa, called Paws @ Work.
This project is actually a pet therapy programme where Woodrock staff bring therapy dogs to the workplace. Staff members get to spend time with the friendly dogs, which provides them with much-needed comfort and stress relief and boosts their overall wellbeing.
Goal
“Mental health is becoming a growing concern in our society, with an increasing number of individuals feeling isolated and alone, often without a support system. The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated this ongoing issue,” explains Stella Meldau, founder of Woodrock.
“Dogs provide companionship and a sense of purpose, making people feel seen and needed. Our focus is to highlight these benefits and educate people on the positive effects of animals, so that we can create a safer and more understanding environment for our furry friends,” says Stella.
She adds that some of the benefits of interaction with dogs in the workplace include:
- Sensory stress relief
- Elevated levels of serotonin
- Reduction in anxiety and depression
- A sense of purpose
Further psychological benefits of spending time with animals include:
- A sense of fulfilment
- Feeling safe
- Lower blood pressure in stressful situations
- Helping us to be more outgoing and social
While Woodrock staff are at the premises of the business, they have an informative discussion on the missions and goals of Woodrock and explain how the public can get actively involved or contribute to the rescue centre.
How it works
Getting Paws @ Work to a business or organisation is as easy as contacting Woodrock to set a date. The company then needs to provide an enclosed space for the interactions to happen. Woodrock will take care of the rest.
“It is important to understand that, prior to their travels, the dogs we bring to the company are carefully selected and undergo a medical and behavioural examination beforehand,” says Stella.
Therapy dogs
The 10 therapy dogs who are currently part of the project are:
- Gigi, a three-year-old Shih Tzu cross female
- Dali, a seven-year-old French Bulldog female
- Emma, an eight-year-old Pekingese cross female
- Jackie, an eight-year-old Chihuahua cross female
- Lulu, a two-year-old Shih Tzu cross female
- Miemie, a two-year-old Africanis cross female
- Molly, an eight-year-old Pekingese cross female
- Motti, an eight-year-old Pekingese cross female
- Moya, a five-year-old Wirehaired Terrier cross female
- Snowy, an eight-year-old Pekingese cross male
About Woodrock
Woodrock stands as a beacon of compassion in the realm of pro-life animal rescue. The rescue centre was founded in 1992 and has been a steadfast ally to the most vulnerable animals, which include animals who are homeless, abused, neglected, stray, injured, ill and geriatric.
“With an unwavering commitment over the years, Woodrock envisions a future where animals do not endure needless suffering. We strive tirelessly toward this vision,” says Stella.
To help rescue animals, Woodrock has a couple of initiatives, like sterilisation. With this project, the organisation focuses on impactful sterilisation efforts to address animal overpopulation. They do this through clinics and outreach programmes conducted to control populations. In 2023, the organisation rescued and treated 2,865 animals.
Woodrock is a ‘no-kill’ shelter that promotes responsible pet ownership and facilitates the adoption of stray animals into loving homes.
Another initiative is the community outreach programme, which provides veterinary services and education on responsible pet ownership to the community. In 2023, the organisation conducted workshops and awareness campaigns, with 49 successful outreaches.
They also offer medical and food support to other organisations to make a holistic impact. Last year, Woodrock fed 1,147 animals daily and provided care for these animals during their rehabilitation period.
Furthermore, Woodrock conducts an education programme with its school outreach initiative, where the organisation emphasises the power of knowledge and the understanding of human-animal interactions. Woodrock visited 27 schools through this programme in 2023
