Pet therapy service will be a ‘pawsitive’ for local hospital

Regan Kelly

The new Cian’s Kennels mobile pet therapy unit launched on Friday at the Midland Regional Hospital Mullingar, will visit weekly (every Saturday) so patients can make regular use of it.

The Cian’s Kennels charity was set up by Evelyn and Enda Neary, after the death of their son Cian, who had hepatosplenic T-cell lymphoma. Cian had a puppy named Cooper, and the two formed an intense bond while Cian was unwell.

LJ Kiernan, a toddler from Collinstown, was special guest at the launch on Friday and cut the ribbon along with his parents.

Pet therapy can have a profound impact on patients, which LJ’s family explained. His mother Joanna said: “We first discovered Cian’s Kennels at a family fun day up in Crumlin, and LJ at the time was very unwell. He was in the ICU and lost his speech, but by the time August came around, he had been improving and was back down on the ward. He went down and met all the dogs but took a liking to one of the small dogs, called Walter, and from then on, he insisted that was his dog and loved him.

“Every Saturday we were able to book in and go out and spend half an hour with the dog, and it was great for him, he just got great joy from it, his enthusiasm came back and now he’s just like any other toddler, buzzing to meet the dogs.”

Michael Carrigy, TD, was among those at the launch event on Friday. He said: “I think we all know how tough hospital life can be, especially for a child. The sounds, smells and strange faces can be overwhelming, but the familiar sight of a family pet can change everything.

“This is a brilliant initiative, and I have no doubt that it will make a huge difference to everyone at Midlands Regional Hospital Mullingar, but especially to the children and parents who need it the most.”

The Mobile Therapy Service will now allow Cian’s Kennels to bring trained therapy dogs, like Walter, directly to paediatric patients in Mullingar, offering emotional support during recovery. Research has shown that animal-assisted therapy can reduce anxiety, improve mood, and foster a sense of security.

Visit cianskennels.ie for more information and follow it on social media updated, or to donate towards services.