Health research in New Zealand and overseas shows many people express great improvement in their health and well-being after interactions with animals.

For decades dogs have been considered best friends of humans, but studies have discovered dogs are more than friends, and have the power to help us during episodes of depression, loneliness and health recovery.

Canine Friends Pet Therapy is a New Zealand-wide network of people who share their friendly and well behaved dogs with patients in hospitals, rest home residents and hospices. Run 100 per cent by volunteers, Canine Friends uses their funds to increase the number of places they visit.

To celebrate Mental Health Day, this October 10, Canine Friends Tauranga will be visiting the offices of Aurecon to give the employees a time out to play with the dogs and chat with the volunteers.

“We know petting dogs is good to lower blood pressure, and one of the best ways to release stress, and ours are really good spreading love, so this is going to be an amazing experience taking our four paw friends to the office,” says Tauranga Liaison Officer, Anna Briffa.

“The dogs we bring to the rest homes and hospitals belong to our volunteers, and as some of them have moved to other cities we are now looking for new helpers to keep reaching more and more people that need a re charge of energy or simply enjoy a couple of hours a day playing and laughing with our dogs,” says Anna.

Canine Friends Pet Therapy visiting a rest home. Photo: Supplied.

Although these dogs do not make special tricks or jumps, they do offer entertainment and company for the people around them.

“We do not train the dogs to do anything special or risky, we just have them to share their unconditional love with the people who really need it,” Says Anna

The next event will be a study break “take a paws”, located at the University of Waikato Tauranga campus.

If you want to become a volunteer to spread the joy with a furry friend, you can contact Anna by email at Tauranga_liaisonofficer@caninefriends.org.nz.