HammondCare and Greyhound Rescue pilot their new program: Hounds Helping Humans

A new program being piloted at an Illawarra aged care facility is giving residents - and retired greyhounds - a new lease on life.

The world-famous Dapto Dogs is just around the corner but at a Horsley aged care facility, a new program is giving retired greyhounds a new lease on life — and helping residents in the process.

HammondCare and Greyhound Rescue have partnered together to spread joy with their new program, Hounds Helping Humans, which is being piloted at a number of facilities across the state including HammondCare Horsley.

The Australian-first program, which launched this month, sees a hound and a handler visit the facilities to provide interaction and social support for those in residential aged care homes, including those living with dementia.

HammondCare general manager residential care, Michael Cooney, said the greyhounds were capable of bringing “magic” to residents during their regular weekly visits.

Dogs such as Long Black, Sunny and Jordy — who’ve spent years on the race track — receive training to prepare them for the sounds, sights, activities and equipment (such as wheelchairs and trolleys) they will encounter in an aged care environment.

Their handlers have also had experience visiting aged care and other types of facilities.

HammondCare CEO Mike Baird with HammondCare Horsley resident Thelma Connaughton.

“The launch of this partnership and important program will raise awareness for great work that Greyhound Rescue do in giving a new purpose to rescued greyhounds in providing happiness for those who are older in the community,” Mr Cooney said.

Natalie Panzarino, the president of Greyhound Rescue, said that she knew greyhounds would be the perfect fit for this kind of program.

“We really know that greyhounds have really special qualities,” Ms Panzarino said. “And it’s something that we hear a lot from people when they’re meeting them for the first time.”

Ms Panzarino said that along with their calm energy, greyhounds were the perfect height for those living in residential aged care homes.

“They’re just a really convenient size because they’re quite tall,” Panzarino said. “It’s easy for people who are in a wheelchair or using a walker or even confined to a bed.”

Mr Cooney said a similar program called The Dogs4Dementia project worked to provide people with dementia the chance to live independently for longer, with the help of a companion animal.

“This project evaluates the placement of trained assistance dogs for people living with dementia and their carers at home,” he said.

“The goal is for these dogs to bring confidence and independence and hopefully allow those living with dementia to remain living at home for longer.”

A 2013 Australian study found that residents in aged care homes with dementia and low moods demonstrated significantly improved depression scores after receiving dog-assisted support.

Ms Panzarino said the launch of the Hounds Helping Humans program at HammondCare Horsley on June 3 had been heartwarming, pointing out one interaction that stood out to her where a male resident opened up about his past for the first time since arriving at the home while petting a greyhound.

“He’s telling us all of this stuff and petting the hound,” Ms Panzarino said. “And at the end of the visit, the staff there said to us that that man has lived here for a number of years and we didn’t know any of that about him.”

After that interaction, Ms Panzarino knew they were “on the right track” and had “the potential to make a real difference to a lot of people.”

At the launch of the pilot program at Hammondcare Horsley.

She said she hoped programs such as these would give greyhounds a more positive, friendly image, and counter any misconceptions that they don’t make good pets because they belong on the racetrack.

“Meeting people is good because more people are introduced to the side of greyhounds that we know and understand, which is where they’re gentle and calm and really loving creatures,” Ms Panzarino said. “So it’s good to be raising awareness.”

For more information about the program, click here.