Residents at Wyrley Rose recently welcomed local dog owners and their pets for the home’s annual dog show, before extending their support to dogs awaiting new homes through a visit to Birmingham Dogs Home.
Our Great Wyrley care home hosted an afternoon of canine competition, giving residents the opportunity to choose categories and judge the entrants.
The home’s interest in supporting animals also led to a special trip to Birmingham Dogs Home following one resident’s wish to visit the charity, with the wider community helping residents collect practical donations for the dogs in its care.
Residents take the lead at annual dog show
Residents’ loved ones and members of the local community joined the event at Wyrley Rose as dogs of different breeds and ages took part in a series of competition categories.
Residents helped choose the categories, which included Golden Oldie, Best Puppy, Best Behaved, Judges’ Favourite and Best Scruff, alongside additional awards such as Best Dressed.
Each dog had the chance to show off its personality and best tricks in front of a judging panel made up of Wyrley Rose Home Manager Gabriel Avaram and residents Jane Sumner, Mick Cook, Margaret Yardley and Diane.
The winners received certificates, rosettes and hampers filled with toys, treats, blankets and snacks, while singing and entertainment formed part of the event throughout the day.
Gabriel said: “There was a fantastic atmosphere throughout the home and our residents absolutely loved being involved in choosing the categories, judging the competition and seeing all of the dogs show off their best tricks.
“It was brilliant to see how much enjoyment the event brought to everyone who took part.”
Encouraging memories and conversation
For many residents, spending time with the dogs also created opportunities to share memories and talk about animals they had known throughout their lives.
Pets can be closely linked to different stages of a person’s life, and activities involving animals can give residents a familiar starting point for conversation and reminiscence.
Gabriel added: “Animals can prompt so many happy memories and conversations, and it was wonderful to see the impact the dogs had on our residents.
“We would like to say a huge thank you to everyone who joined us, entered their dogs and helped make the day so special.”
Creating opportunities that encourage conversation and reminiscence is an important part of life at Wyrley Rose, with activities shaped around the interests and memories of the people who live at the home.
Supporting Birmingham Dogs Home
Wyrley Rose’s involvement with animals continued beyond the dog show when one resident expressed a wish to visit Birmingham Dogs Home.
The idea developed into a wider community collection, with donations gathered for dogs waiting to be rehomed.
Residents took blankets, towels, toys, treats and other useful items with them when they visited the charity.
During the trip, they had the opportunity to meet some of the dogs, speak to members of the team and learn more about the day-to-day work involved in caring for animals while they wait for new homes.
Gabriel said: “The visit was made even more meaningful thanks to the generous donations of blankets, towels, toys, treats and other practical items that residents were able to take with them for the dogs and the team caring for them.
“Alongside our annual dog show, it has been a lovely way to create meaningful experiences and support a cause they genuinely care about.”
The importance of personalised experiences
Both activities reflect Wyrley Rose’s approach to creating experiences around residents’ individual interests, memories and wishes.
For one person, that might mean spending time with animals or supporting a cause they care about. For another, it could involve returning to a familiar place, taking part in a favourite hobby or enjoying an activity linked to their life history.
Taking the time to understand those interests can help care teams create experiences that feel relevant to each individual and give residents opportunities to remain connected to the people, places and causes that matter to them.
At Wyrley Rose, the dog show and visit to Birmingham Dogs Home created opportunities for residents to socialise, share memories, spend time with the local community and support a cause they valued.
Find out more about Wyrley Rose
Experiences like these form part of life at Wyrley Rose, where activities and opportunities are shaped around the individual interests and preferences of residents.
To find out more about Wyrley Rose and the care and support available at the home, visit:
https://macccare.com/our-homes/wyrley-rose/
To learn more about Birmingham Dogs Home and its work supporting dogs awaiting new homes, visit:
https://www.birminghamdogshome.org.uk/
