1. www.ourspecialfriends.org
Registered address: West End House, Upper Green, Higham, Bury St Edmunds IP28 6PA, UK
Our Special Friends is the trading name of Our Special Friends Ltd. (Company Reg. No: 8769892 England and Wales)
Registered Charity No. 1156778
An Overview
Welcome! This document aims to give you a quick overview of OSF and our work. More detailed
information can be found at www.ourspecialfriends.org.
What is Our Special Friends?
The benefits of animal companionship on human wellbeing have been proved by countless studies
and, for many people, their pet is a vital companion, providing friendship, security and continuity,
especially at challenging times. Our Special Friends is a young charity which aims to support human-
animal relationships - and to enable them to continue despite changes in circumstance if possible.
Specifically we aim to:
 Offer practical and emotional support to enable those facing difficult times to benefit from
animal companionship. The help we offer includes:
 Providing dog-walking or accompanied walking via our volunteers or others
 Offering advice and practical support via our volunteers to keep a pet living with its owner
 Arranging regular visits from a volunteer with their own dog
 Sourcing, introducing and monitoring a new pet
 Supporting and empowering difficult decisions.
 Increase awareness and understanding of the benefits of the human-animal bond and the
impact of loss and bereavement. This work includes:
 Providing advice and support pre-, during and post-bereavement in collaboration with other
support networks where appropriate
 Encouraging advance planning for the care of the animal to give peace of mind.
 Work collaboratively with existing human and companion animal (pet) organisations and
support networks to help both people and animals.
 Examples of human organisations: Cruse, St Nicholas Hospice, Parkinson’s UK and Age UK.
Examples of companion animal organisations: The Cinnamon Trust, Dogs Trust, World Horse
Welfare and Cats Protection. Support networks include dementia and befriending groups
 Educating professionals and volunteers in the fields of social care, human and animal health
about the benefits of supporting human-animal relationships.
What makes us different?
Many charities help vulnerable people while others work with animals. We are spanning the divide -
working with both human and animal-focused organisations - keeping people and their pets
together if possible; providing support through bereavement (human or pet) and sourcing suitable
companions or other forms of animal contact for vulnerable people who have lost - or can no longer
keep - a pet. Other unique aspects of our work are that:

2. 2
www.ourspecialfriends.org
Registered address: West End House, Upper Green, Higham, Bury St Edmunds IP28 6PA, UK
Our Special Friends is the trading name of Our Special Friends Ltd. (Company Reg. No: 8769892 England and Wales)
Registered Charity No. 1156778
 Through the support we provide, we may sometimes be able to identify unmet health and social
care needs of vulnerable people which may be concealed from others. We can then put them in
touch with other social and health care providers.
 Our service is offered to all in need of it regardless of age or location (for instance, whether they
are in their own home, a hospice, a nursing home etc). We work both through our own
volunteers and collaborate with other social and healthcare professionals.
What types of people does OSF help typically?
 Individuals of all ages suffering from mental or physical incapacities who have or had pets as
companions but are no longer able to keep them or need support in doing so.
 Individuals of all ages who are socially isolated or bereaved - perhaps recently divorced or
widowed or whose partner has moved into residential care or whose pet has died
OSF in Action - Case studies
Example 1: Two neighbours, both widows, living independently were mourning the loss of a shared
dog. We gave initial support in their grieving and gave them advice on sourcing a new pet. Further
support was needed because the women inadvertently selected a dog with significant health issues
from a rescue centre. We assessed the situation and negotiated for the rescue centre's vet to treat
the dog. We then encouraged the women to use their own vet for vaccinations and worming and
provided a donation to cover the cost. We are still in regular contact with the women who are now
extremely happy and benefitting from the companionship their dog offers.
Example 2: A woman in her mid-70s had relied on her dog while caring for her late husband.
Shortly after his death, she was diagnosed with a terminal illness. We assessed her needs then
provided regular social contact to monitor her wellbeing and that of her dog. As her illness
progressed, we arranged dog walking support, which we increased as she needed it. At the end of
her life, she was admitted to a hospice and her visiting family took the dog to see her. We gave her
peace of mind by documenting her wishes for the dog following her death. The increased
socialisation helped the dog which was subsequently rehomed within the family.
Example 3: We were asked to help the respite carer of a 93 old woman with advanced dementia by
providing an additional activity for both of them. After an assessment, we initiated visits from an
OSF volunteer with her dog, Maisie. The visits have been very well received by the client and have
continued for two years. Feedback from the carer is that Maisie's visits 'bring her (the client) to life.'
Through our involvement, a domestic help has also been introduced to the client and, overall, our
input has led to increased collaboration around the care services provided and increased social
interaction for the client, the carer and our volunteer.