Big Day For The Orchard’s Favourite Hound With The Launch of Daisy’s Doggy Café
If you’re a regular visitor to The Orchard or their Facebook page, you’ll have noticed that a furry white face pops up frequently. Meet Daisy – a dog so well-loved, she’s inspired a café for her canine pals and their owners.
Daisy Joins The Orchard Team
When Wellbeing Coordinator, Julie, adopted rescue dog Daisy as a companion for herself, little did she know that her new friend would bring pleasure to so many people – including residents at The Orchard Care Home in St Albans.
As part of the Wellbeing Team, Julie is aware of the benefits that visits from well-behaved animals can bring to residents, especially those who have previously owned pets. As Daisy had settled in and was showing some lovely personality traits, Julie decided that she could join her at work for a for a trial run. The feedback was overwhelmingly positive, with some residents even asking whether Daisy could come in every day.
The rest is history. Although not quite a daily visitor, Daisy is now a regular and has a routine, including her morning ‘rounds’ where she pops past the residents’ rooms to say hello and has her own intuitive way of communicating. One day, Daisy was nowhere to be found until she was discovered curled up in bed with a resident, being stroked. The resident explained that Daisy could hear her name being called, but she was enjoying having a cuddle so stayed put – clearly putting the wellbeing of the resident first!
Friends and Favourites at The Orchard
Daisy has a kind nature and makes friends easily. One of her biggest fans is resident David who loves seeing her as the name brings back fond memories of a cat he had when was younger, also named Daisy. They are great friends and also partners in crime, with David often trying to slip Daisy the treats she loves but shouldn’t really have!
The Orchard’s Senior Maintenance Officer, Steve, is Daisy’s favourite person and she loves to watch and help him as he works his way around the care home. When she needs a break from the maintenance schedule, Daisy finds that the red chairs in reception are perfect for a short nap.
Daisy Inspires Dog Café to Encourage Canine Visitors
With so many residents enjoying Daisy’s company, the Orchard team decided they should host a regular dog-orientated event at the home. The idea of a ‘dog café’ was born – an invitation to local dog walkers and dog owners to drop in for coffee and biscuits. It would be a sociable event for dog lovers, with dog treats for canine guests, and the opportunity for residents to interact with members of the community and their furry friends.
The launch of ‘Daisy’s Doggy Café at The Orchard’, saw Daisy centre stage, greeting guests and mingling with residents. It was a sunny day and a happy, sociable gathering, with some fabulous dog-themed iced shortbread biscuits and a delicious sponge cake baked by Gami, another dog-owning member of the Wellbeing team. Canine guests were catered for too, with Julie’s special treat bags.
Customer Relationship Manager, Vicky, attended the event and said: “It was such fun to see residents, visitors and dogs getting on, with a love of dogs creating a common bond. It was a real highlight in the week for our residents. There was a handful of happy hounds at the first of our ‘Daisy’s Doggy Café’ events, but we can definitely accommodate more and we’d love to invite dog owners to drop in to our next events on Tuesday 8th October and Tuesday 19th November from 10am until 12 noon. There’ll be complementary tea, coffee, and biscuits for both humans and dogs!”
In the meantime, residents at The Orchard will be looking forward to Daisy’s next visit and the opportunity for some 1-1 time with the home’s much-loved canine ambassador.
Discover The Orchard Nursing Home in St Albans
The Orchard Nursing Home, a modern and comfortable care home based in St Albans is beautifully furnished and offers residential, nursing and dementia care. Our location makes us convenient for family and friends who are visiting the home, and we’re perfectly located for a host of different outings across Hertfordshire.
For more information about The Orchard Nursing Home, please visit our dedicated page for more information. You can also find information on our other care homes by exploring our site. Please don’t hesitate to get in touch to find out more.
