When residents at Brocastle Manor Care Home in Bridgend, hear the gentle sound of tiny paws padding down the hallway, they know the much-loved cockapoo puppies have arrived.
It all began when Amanda Davis, Deputy Home Manager at Brocastle Manor, a Hafod care home, found out her cockapoo Cosmo was to become a dad. When the eight puppies arrived, one, Leila, stayed with Amanda and two others found their forever homes with Brocastle colleagues.
Every other Friday, the puppies visit, filling the home with excitement and laughter.
“They absolutely love them,” says Amanda. “They light up the room as soon as they come in, everybody smiles. Residents reminisce of the dogs that they had and it's just wonderful.
“Residents save bits of their breakfast just to offer treats to the puppies. It’s so lovely.”
Comfort and companionship
The puppies are more than just adorable visitors, they’ve become therapeutic companions.
Clinical Lead, Olimpia Hojda, who brings her cockapoo puppy Bear with her on her daily rounds, says the presence of the dogs has had a calming, uplifting effect,
“I took Bear with me this morning while checking blood sugars and giving insulin. Bear jumped on a resident’s bed, and they laughed and said, ‘Can I keep him all day?’ It’s comforting. It turns a routine task into something joyful.
“Even residents with limited mobility can enjoy the puppy visits. They come into the office just to check if the puppies need anything, it gives them a reason to get up, to interact.”
A spark of joy
Linda Jenkins, Manager at Brocastle Manor, has witnessed firsthand the extraordinary emotional impact the puppies have, particularly on residents living with dementia,
“Some of our residents are non-verbal, but when the puppies visit, their eyes light up, they smile, and it makes such a difference to their day.”
Resident Clive agrees. “I thoroughly enjoy it. When they’re playing and jumping around, it really breaks the day up. Bear even woke me up this morning with a kiss! It reminded me of my Beagle, it’s lovely.”
For Brocastle’s Wellbeing Coach, Ceri Powell, the puppies bring something very special to the home,
“I call it ‘Dog TV’, because when the puppies are here, nothing else matters. Everyone is fully engaged. There are very few activities where everyone in the room is smiling, but this is one of them.”
The Brocastle puppies aren’t just visitors, they’re family. They bring laughter, memories, and emotional connection in a home where compassion, care, and community are at the heart of everything.
These 6-month old puppies bring a joy that is changing lives, one tiny paw at a time.