Shining A Light On Leo & Friends - Extraordinary Dogs With Healing Powers

SOUTHAMPTON CHILDRENS THERAPY DOGS TEAM AT THE 2021 SUPERDOG AWARDS

Seen on the red carpet were 2021 Naturo SuperDog Award finalists in the team category, Southampton Children's Hospital Therapy Dogs. Liz Wilkinson (therapy dog handler), Loretta McCarthy (sibling), Aidan McCarthy and Felix Barrow (former patients), Lyndsey Uglow (founder and author), Izzie Stevens (former patient), and Karen Ramsay & Hannah Ramsay (therapy dog handlers) with dogs, Leo and Archie.

Leo Therapy Dog Has His Own Book!

Southampton’s Waterstones store had an unusual guest recently when a much-loved local dog was there to ‘pawtograph’ his newly published book. “Leo & Friends – the extraordinary dogs with the healing touch”, written by Lyndsey Uglow and published by Harper Collins, is the story behind the Southampton Children’s Hospital award winning therapy dog team of seven Golden Retrievers and four volunteer handlers

So far this team of hero SuperDogs and handlers has seen more than 10,000 patients since they started visiting the hospital, some of whom queued to meet Leo again at the book signing.

PATIENT WITH HEADPHONES IN HOSPITAL PLAYROOM WITH LEO

“It was incredible to see some of our old patients and also to meet some of the people who follow us on our social media” Lyndsey said after the signing. "Leo loved meeting everyone and it was lovely to hear complete strangers say how much they enjoyed the book detailing what we do and why we do it and how we do it."

LYNDSEY WITH LEO AT THE BEDSIDE OF A PATIENT

With a foreword by James Middleton, this book is heartfelt and life-affirming. Leo & Friends is a beautiful celebration of love and life, and a testament to the special bonds we form in the times when we need them the most. .

LYNDSEY & LEO AT THE BOOKSHOP

Lyndsey’s dynasty of golden retrievers has helped her family through their own personal health struggles and now she shares the powerful human-animal bond with patients and their families.

In March 2020, Lyndsey and Leo won the Kennel Club 'Friends for Life' award at Crufts.

COLLAGE OF SCH THERAPY DOGS WITH PATIENTS

Lyndsey and her team continue to develop new ways of supporting patients through Animal Assisted Intervention. She holds the Certificate for Animal Assisted Therapy, Activities and Learning from the Institute for Human-Animal Connection at Denver University and is one of the co-authors of the Royal College of Nursing and Intensive Care Society guidelines for therapy dogs in healthcare.

LEO & FRIENDS BOOKS ONLINE AND HARDCOVER