A LLECHRYD Cavalier King Charles Spaniel has been successful in her owner’s bid to become a Pets As Therapy dog and will now visit hospitals, schools, nursing homes and anywhere where a friendly pooch can help make a difference.

Coco-Belle, famous for her appearances on stage in the production of Annie the Musical and the Wizard of Oz with the Dynamix Performing School, as well as taking part in the Olympic Flame walk through town and the 250th celebration of Lloyds Bank, is a real well-known star and will start her visits in the next month.

Coco-Belle’s owner, Sharon Hughes, who works for Lloyds Bank in Cardigan, can’t wait to take her around the area.

“I’m going to be looking to use my 'Day to Make a Difference' from work to hopefully visit schools where she can help children with their reading. Lloyds allow us to have a day off for volunteering and charity work and maybe I can visit four establishments in one day,” said Sharon.

Coco-Belle is one of 5,000 dogs in the UK who takes part in the Pets As Therapy Programme (PAT) a humanitarian charity with people at its heart.

Founded in 1983, PAT has been at the forefront of community based Animal Assisted Therapy across the length and breadth of the UK. Today, it’s the largest organisation of its kind in Europe, enhancing thousands of lives.

“I think of Coco-Belle as the daughter I never had,” laughed Sharon. “Helping people in the community has been on my mind for a long time, and as so many people enjoy seeing her, I wanted to take part in something official.

“She has the correct temperament for visiting residential homes and schools and she’s helped me through difficult times and maybe she can help others with rehabilitation and phobias,” said Sharon.

Thousands of people of all ages benefit every week from the visits provided by the Volunteer PAT Teams, who visit residential homes, hospitals, hospices, schools, day care centres and prisons.

Volunteers with just a small amount of spare time each week work with their own pets, to bring joy, comfort and companionship to many individuals who appreciate being able to touch and stroke a friendly animal.

Sharon knows that Coco-Belle will enjoy her experiences visiting different places and meeting new people.

She said: “She’s a very sociable dog and I think I’m doing this more for her than me. I think she’s human half the time and she is very special and loves wagging her tail when she meets new people.”