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Therapy dogs help patients recover

Benji plays a very important role at the royal prince Alfred hospital, offering companionship to patients when they need it most.

The pup does the rounds in the neurological ward once a week, visiting patients who have suffered a stroke, or brain injury or who are recovering from surgery.

Slowly, Benji, with the help of his trainer, encourage them to leave the confines of their rooms, to talk, start walking again and smile

The RPA is the latest in a growing list of major hospitals that have recruited the therapy dogs and hopes to expand the program so patients with varying conditions can benefit during their time in hospital.

When they’re not here, therapy dogs like Benji are household pets.

The Delta Society relies on dog lovers to volunteer their time and their pets for this not-for-profit program.

For more details, visit www.deltasociety.com.au