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Coronavirus (Covid-19) Policy

As you know we continue to monitor all new Coronavirus related developments, liaising with other bodies in social care in our region and taking our lead from the nationally provided advice.

Our absolute priority remains everyone’s health and wellbeing, the people we visit and obviously all our volunteers and staff.

On the 16th of March 2020, to comply with national guidelines and to keep everyone safe, we had to temporarily suspend all visiting activities.

As time went on, we were able to visit from a distance of at least 2m including Friendship Dogs. Vulnerable people can’t shake a paw until it’s safe to shake the hand of the volunteer.

Our more than 400 volunteers have continued throughout to support their elderly friends at home and in residential care with errands or shopping or by scheduling regular chats by phone or FaceTime etc. In addition we have sent everyone special Thinking of You cards and artisan cake deliveries, and we are about to send out 000’s of the new Wag 2021 Calendar to make people smile.

We are very conscious that some of our friends rely heavily on our visits and keeping in touch remotely is really important for their wellbeing during these challenging days.

We are also still recruiting and processing new volunteers; this situation will pass and life will go on and our elderly dog loving friends will need us more than ever.

This is such a sad situation for everyone, our volunteers and for many of the people we visit I know. We will update this guidance continuously as things further develop and we will be back visiting just as soon as it is safely possible.

Today, 17th September 2020, new restrictions were introduced for 8* of the 12 unitary authorities of the North East and prevent those of us affected, amongst other things, from socialising with anyone outside our household or support bubbles.

In addition, it is clear that everyone is tightening the protocols for visiting care homes and in adult social care generally this winter. North Tyneside have just locked down their care homes completely and we expect others to adopt the same approach.

Walk for Wag..Anywhere - Saturday 19th September is also affected by these new restrictions. As walkers we need to be sure to effectively distance from anyone who is not in our household or support bubble. We believe that for the majority of our walkers, that is what’s happening anyway, so we hope we’ll be mostly unaffected.

Difficult times!

All the best everyone, keep yourselves safe won’t you.

Diane Morton

Chair

17th September 2020

*Northumberland, North Tyneside, North Shields, Newcastle, Gateshead, South Shields, Sunderland, County Durham

We can only provide our life-changing friendships with your support.

Support us

We are the only visiting dogs charity befriending older dog lovers in their own homes as well as in care or in hospitals.

With just an hour or two most weeks, our professionally assessed Visiting Wag Teams provide elderly people, often isolated and bereaved, with something to look forward to, some company, a chat, a cuppa and a cuddle with that much missed furry friend.

Join us

Where we’re working and the impact we have.

We work across all 12 unitary authorities of the North East of England.

See our impact

The Wag & Company story so far…

492

volunteers

10,404

Friend vists

74,918

people benefitting

An estimated 51,000 pensioners in the North East are chronically lonely and they are 50% more likely to die prematurely than people with good social networks.

With your support there’s more we can do to help.

We want more isolated elderly people to benefit from friendship and the company of a dog – but we can only do that with your support.

Whether you can volunteer, fundraise or Become a Friend of Wag and contribute towards the costs of providing Visiting Wag Teams in your community, we need you!

Make a difference

Tracey & Jack

Volunteer spotlight
Meet Tracey & Jack

"It’s a lovely way to spend a couple of hours. Kitty and I have a good chat, Jack loves it too and runs to the front door."

Since early 2018, Tracey, who works full time, has been visiting Kitty in her own home most Saturdays with her Labrador Jack on referral from Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust.

Become a Visiting Wag Team

Our newly qualified Wag Friendship Dogs!

Coco

Arnold

Izzy

Pippa

Rosie

Amber

Isla

Lolly

Max

Sox