Jorcha the labradoodle is the Turquoise Teapot's new PAT dog in training
Visitors to a Newark café will be greeted at the door by a new four-legged volunteer.
The family-run Turquoise Teapot, on Bowbridge Road is run by siblings Kieran, Bradley, and Simone Wells.
It offers support for those with dementia and mental health issues over a drink, as well as giving information for people concerned over their own, or their loved one’s, mental state.
One of the main weekly events the venue hosts is a memory café on Wednesday afternoons, from 3pm, and the team has enlisted their 12-week-old labradoodle puppy, Jorcha, to help out.
The pup is being trained up as a Pets as Therapy (PAT) dog, and Kieran said her presence would help those with more invisible disabilities at the café.
“We know that not all disabilities can be seen, and we want to offer some more help and comfort to our customers,” he said.
“A lot of people with autism and dementia find comfort with therapy dogs, and we wanted to introduce Jorcha to help with her training and to help our customers.”
Jorcha was chosen because of her very calm and placid nature, and Kieran said that despite her tender age, she’s incredibly chilled out which is what makes her so suitable as a PAT dog.
“She is honestly the calmest dog we have ever known, especially compared to our last dog, who was barmy,” Kieran said.
Visitors can meet Jorcha in her PAT dog role at the Turquoise Teapot’s memory café.
