Pringle the Friendship Dog Supports Seniors in Their Promise to End Loneliness

Pringle, a 10-year-old golden retriever, has found her own way to work since 2017. She has earned the title, Friendship Dog, spreading happiness to older people who may be experiencing loneliness according to Mirror.

This all began when North East charity Wag & Company had vowed to “end loneliness for older dog lovers” by having volunteers and their dogs come to visit them regularly. As reported in the company, there are over 51,000 pensioners in the North East who report feeling lonely all or most of the time. Many of them are dog lovers, but are no longer able to have dogs of their own due to personal reasons.

Since its creation in 2015, Wag & Company is the only charity in the UK that brings dogs to visit people in their own homes. Their website states that “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.”

For elderly people who have lost family and friends as they have grown older, and declining health has left them unable to go out and meet others, the time spent with their visiting dog is essential.

According to their website, more than three thousand people benefit from the visits, with over seventy-nine thousand visits and 403 volunteers. Wag & Company also works across all 12 unitary authorities of the North East of England.

One of the people benefiting from the visits is Elsie, a wonderful 84-year-old who lives in Benton, Newcastle.

She put in a request for a visiting dog as she was missing canine company after having family dogs all throughout her life. She was matched with volunteers Emma and Pringle.

Pringle sleeps on Elsie’s feet when she is not cuddling up next to her new friend on the couch. Elsie has even bought the affectionate furry friend her own food bowl and special treats for when she comes to visit.