A HOSPICE hosts its annual Pooches On The Prom tomorrow to raise cash and show how important pets can be for sick people

But the work it does with dogs does not stop there.

For many people a pet is an important part of their life and contributes to their feelings of wellbeing.

The Martlets in Hove works to help terminally ill people stay in their homes and be with their beloved pets.

Pets are always welcome to visit those patients staying in the hospice pets.

And there are also visits from special pet therapy (Pat) dogs calling in weekly.

The Pat dogs provide friendship and help tackle loneliness, often improving the lives of people suffering from debilitating mental and physical health conditions

Charlotte Bolton, organiser of the hospice’s Pooches On The Prom event, said: “I know that one of the things I hear really regularly from the patients and their families is how much of a difference it makes that people can bring their dogs in to see them on the ward.

“It’s about making it their home away from home and making people feel as comfortable as possible.

“Pets are so powerful in doing that – they’re a huge part of everybody’s life.

“There’s lots of people who have had pets in the past that maybe don’t any more.

“So when the Pat dogs go around, they just completely light up because it just makes everyone’s day better.

“Even if you have never had a pet, seeing a furry face is always going to cheer you up.

“They can be so calming and tranquil to be around, particularly certain Pat dogs – they make a huge impact on patients and families.

“They just provide this channel of communication.

“Maybe if you don’t feel comfortable opening up to someone else, just having this pet to talk to lets you get it all out which is so important.”

One patient at the hospice, Di Baxter, has her companion dog Barney go to the daily coffee mornings with her.

She said: “Barney has been with me for ten years and he helps me in so many different ways.

“As I am hard of hearing, he has learnt to tell me if the phone is ringing and lets me know if my shopping has arrived.

“He comes to the coffee mornings at Martlets with me and everyone loves to see him.

“He is such a character and a wonderful companion.”

As well as the work the hospice does with dogs, the Martlets provides care for those diagnosed with a terminal illness in plenty of other ways, ensuring the best treatment either at the centre or in their homes.

The hospice offers therapies for patients such as the popular shiatsu class, and with a gym and smoking room available, the aim is to make the patients feel as close to home as possible.

Charlotte said: “The Martlets does a lot of work in the community, which a lot of people don’t know about.

“We go into people’s homes, we also have day services and our inpatient unit so there’s a variety of different things we do for the community.

“We work with people who have had terminal diagnosis, so we work with them through that.

“The earlier we find out about this diagnosis the better because there’s a lot of stuff we can do beforehand.

“I think people have this view of hospices being end-of-life only, but we do so

much beforehand that can help.

“We also work a lot with people’s families as well as with the patients which I think is really important, particularly with post-bereavement and making sure that everybody, not just the patients, feel comfortable coming in and using

the services as much as they can.”

The Martlets hosts many fundraising events throughout the year.

Its major events include the Pebble Memory Walk dedicating time to remembering loved ones, or the popular Kapow! inflatable obstacle course where contestants slip, slide and jump over the 5k fun run.

With charity shops throughout Brighton and Hove, there are plenty of opportunities to donate to the hospice and support the great work it does.

For more information on the work the Martlets Hospice does, visit the website at www.themartlets.org.uk/ and book your tickets for Pooches On The Prom at www.themartlets.org.uk/Event/pooches2019.