Residents at a care home in East Yorkshire were treated to an unusual kind of visit last week: one that chirped, purred and even slithered. Rabbits, guinea pigs, bantam chickens, an albino hedgehog, an owl and a bearded dragon were all guests at Red House care home in Bridlington, brought along by The Purple Pig Company from Pocklington. The visit formed part of a pet therapy session designed to lift residents’ spirits and spark conversation. As BBC News reported, staff described it as “a marvellous afternoon”.
Red House provides specialist care for people living with dementia, and for many residents the animals brought back warm memories of the pets they’d once owned. Cameron Innes, from the home’s parent company HICA Group, said the experience had a visible effect on those taking part. “They absolutely loved being close to the animals,” he explained. “It also got them talking about the pets they used to have when they were younger, which was really wonderful.”
For people with dementia, he said, everyday life can be full of anxiety and confusion, but the presence of animals helps that ease away. “When the animals are there, and they can stroke them, their anxiety disappears, and the smiles return to their faces. It’s just a wonderful thing to behold.”
The session wasn’t just about bringing animals into a communal space; it was carefully planned, so every resident could take part. Those who couldn’t leave their rooms were visited individually, with handlers carrying the smaller creatures around so that no one was left out.
The therapy behind the fun
The visit was run by Rachel Searstone, owner of The Purple Pig Company, who travels across Yorkshire with her mobile farm to provide animal therapy in care homes and schools. She said she’s seen first-hand how effective the sessions can be. “If you’re sat with a rabbit on your knee, and you’re stroking it, your blood pressure goes down,” she said. “It’s been proven to reduce stress levels.”
Searstone explained that the impact can be even greater for residents with advanced dementia. “Sometimes people who rarely speak will suddenly start talking about the animals they used to have,” she said. “It brings back memories and encourages them to connect. You can see them light up.”
According to both the carers and the handlers, it’s not just the residents who benefit. Staff described the visit as uplifting for everyone involved, saying that hearing the residents’ stories about childhood pets made the afternoon especially touching. “One of the ladies was telling me about the rabbits she used to have when she was bringing up her kids,” Innes recalled. “They’re connecting with happy times in their earlier lives.”
For Searstone, that kind of reaction is what makes her work so rewarding. “The residents are so much fun,” she said. “They tell such good stories. I end up in stitches half the time, just listening to them.”
The day may have started as a therapy session, but it ended up as something more: a shared reminder that comfort, connection, and laughter can come from the simplest moments. For the residents of Red House, the hedgehogs, rabbits, and chickens weren’t just visitors. They were little flashes of joy, stirring memories that had been waiting quietly to return.