This afternoon me an' Mack went on our first PAT visits. After Jack's visit we had a conflab and from wot 'ee said we decided we'd go for St. Andrews. So dad's been checked out by the CRB again an' they reckon 'ee's an OK bloke - just shows you can fool some of the people some of the time (just jokin' dad - 'onest).

We met up wiv Pat and Lucy (collie) and Helen and Shauna (German Shepard). Shauna was a right gobby mare 'til we all said "Allo" proper. Lucy and Shauna was done up as fairies, me and Mack 'ad dickie bows a tinsel on to look a bit festive like.

While we was waitin' a lady said "Hi" to dad so I took me chance - straight in for a stroke an' a cuddle. Turns out it's the Volunteer Services lady don't it. She laughed and said "This one's a PAT dog". Not to be left out Mack gets on the uvver side of 'er and does his thing; she reckoned he was one too.

First off we went to an old ladies ward. I reckon most was 'avin' a kip 'coz there weren't that many up an' about, but there was one lady, Mavis I'll call 'er, wot insisted on seein' everyone; lovely lass she was. Each of us went to see Mavis in turn; when she sees me she gave a lovely smile; Mack reckons 'ee got one an all, so I reckon we all did.

Next off was anuvver ladies ward. Funniest fing here was not any off the residents, but one of the staff. Lovely lass called Ester who come from Zimbabwe was workin'. We wanders in looking for people wot's going to make a fuss of us and she gets as far away as she can wivout actually climin' the walls; she's scared of dogs. For me an' Mack, who's mission in life is to be stroked by everyone, this is an unacceptable situation. Five minutes later she's got 'er arms round the Bookend Boys - result.

'Course, we weren't there for the staff an' went to see the ladies wot live there. Joan was very 'appy to us and wanted know everything there is to know about greyhounds - sharp as pin she was.

Then we went a ward for fellas. It did seem like they needed a bit more care, but they were glad to see us and me and Mack don't give a monkeys - a stroke is a stroke. And good fings 'appen.

Mack went up this one chap - we'll call 'im George. Just sittin' there he was, 'ead down looking at 'is lap; turns out that's all George ever does. Well, Mack goes up to 'im and does the big brown eye stare and next fing George is strokin' Mack. We fought nuffink of it 'til all the staff turned round in amazement at wot was 'appenin'. Mack didn't realise 'til I told 'im afterwards, 'ee was quite 'appy 'avin' stroke.

Anyway, I'm gonna stop now and let Mack tell yer about the rest of the afternoon. I'll end by sayin' that I fought it was brilliant. If this is what being a PAT dog is about, bring it on; we made Mavis smile, we got George to take is face out 'is lap and we got Ester to like dogs - well - us two at least; triffik!!

Labels: PAT