Caring Canine Companions: In the City of Adelaide region of South Australia

As David Eatts approaches the Resthaven Aged Car Home at Westbourne Park his passengers, Duncan, Finney and the rest of the gang know something is about to happen. They make the trip every month as they do the rounds of aged care homes in Adelaide.

Duncan's not as sprightly as he once was but this bloke was an Australian Champion Golden Retriever in his day. Now Dave who does the retrieving for Duncan's regular performance.

It’s all part of a program called Caring Canine Companions, in which volunteers and their pooches do their stuff and bring much needed warmth and companionship to others who don't get out as much as they'd probably like to.

As soon as they arrive, Eliza knows it's "Show time".

For the past ten years volunteers like David and Josephine Eatts and Sue Knight have been bringing their gang of dogs to aged care homes throughout Adelaide. The dogs are officially assessed for temperament, friendliness and cleanliness. So too are their owners, because this program carries with it a heavy responsibility. But the impact can be truly profound.

“We walked into a room once and the lady was lying in bed. She seemed to be asleep and was curled up in a foetal position. The carer who was with us brought her sheet back and got her hand out. Put the dog on the bed and rubbed her hand on the dog. Eventually this lady who apparently didn't respond to anything at all began to pat the dog. All the staff kept coming into the room and watching this reaction and they just couldn't believe what was occurring with the lady and the dog. It brought tears to your eyes. It was just wonderful. It virtually brought her back into the world of the living.”

Now Honey, the Yorkeshire Terrier brings her own special magic to residents at Resthaven while Duncan gets a sympathetic pat from those who know all about his condition.

“He suffers from arthritis. Everybody thinks that's really something because they can relate to the dog with arthritis. They want to know what medication he's on and all that sort of thing and it's quite a talking point. We've been coming with Duncan since he was about four.

Other people can volunteer to bring their dogs to the program too. I’ve got about twenty nursing homes and hostels that are actually waiting for volunteers to come along with their dogs.”

For many, these visits are a time to remember special friends from the past.

“We were never without a dog. I've always loved dogs.”

But do these Caring Canines resent the workload and responsibility? Well the final say on that goes to Eliza who looked into the Postcards camera and promptly shook her head - a definite NO.

If you think your four-legged friend has what it takes to be a Caring Canine Companion or you'd like to organise a visit from this motley crew or any of the other 110 volunteers and their dogs then call Josephine Eatts on 1800 077 722.