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Thurso 'superdog' Ember is a lifesaver


By David G Scott

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A three-year-old Labrador has been hailed as a superhero for her work as a Pets as Therapy (Pat) dog in Thurso.

The foxy-red Lab, belonging to Pauline Millar, is reputed to have saved lives, lifted moods and brought "cheer and love to all".

Across the country thousands of people of all ages benefit every week from the visits provided by Pat volunteer teams at residential homes, hospitals, hospices, schools, day care centres, and prisons.

They enhance health and wellbeing in the community through these visits and help improve literacy in children by their confidence, interest and enjoyment they give through the Read2Dogs scheme.

Susan Coughlin, a regular at the Thurso Community Café, said that Pauline told her "some heart warming stories" about what a difference Ember makes.

"Before lockdown, Pauline would visit Bayview nursing home every week with Ember," said Susan.

"One particular day, they were at one end of the long community lounge. A gentleman was stroking Ember. Suddenly, Ember started pulling on the lead to the other end of the room. She went right up to a lady who was choking. Nobody had noticed. Staff soon relieved her of the boiled sweetie she'd been choking on. The lady could have died."

There have been other instances of Ember finding undiagnosed illnesses within people she meets – a dog's sense of smell is 25 times stronger than a human's and therapy dogs have discovered undetected cancer and other ailments in people they meet.

Susan related another story when the head teacher of Mount Pleasant Primary was leading Pauline and Ember up the stairs of the school when all of a sudden the dog started pulling to one side around a corner.

"There was a wee lass of about five sobbing her heart out. Ember went up and started licking her face and her tears. Pauline said they were almost in tears themselves. Isn't Ember a wonderful dog?"

Pauline and Ember are often at Thurso Community Café situated near the harbour.

Young Rhiannon came specially to the community café to meet Ember as she'd heard so many great things about her.
Young Rhiannon came specially to the community café to meet Ember as she'd heard so many great things about her.

"The reason for myself contacting the Thurso Community Café was hearing of so many in our community struggling with mental health issues," said Pat volunteer Pauline.

"Also, those who live alone and feel isolated due to the Covid restrictions – I wanted to reach out and I can’t thank the café enough for welcoming myself and Ember with open arms."

A young girl called Rhiannon had recently spent time in hospital and came specially into the café to meet the Pat dog. Rhiannon was delighted and said it made her week to meet Ember.

Pauline said Pets as Therapy is looking for new volunteers in the area and anyone interested can visit its website at www.petsastherapy.org/ or email her directly at paulinemillar@hotmail.com

Pauline and Ember are at Thurso Community Café most Thursdays between 10am and 2pm.

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