HEXHAM’s MP joined a pair of friendship dogs on their weekly visit to a Hexham care home.

As part of his constituency summer tour, MP Guy Opperman visited Acomb Court Care Home as residents were being treated to one of their regular visits from two of WAG and Company’s friendship dogs, Cassie and Tattie (and their owners Audrey and Judy).

The dogs, and their owners, visit each week to offer comfort and laughter.

WAG’s aim is to reduce loneliness in older dog lovers in the North-East region and to ensure that no older person misses friendship and the company of a dog.

WAG and Company North-East Friendship Dogs was launched in May 2016 and was set up to enable professionally assessed volunteers and their special dogs – visiting WAG teams – to regularly and safely visit and befriend older dog lovers in their own homes or in care and medical establishments across the 12 unitary authorities of the North-East of England.

The company is the only visiting dog charity to visit people in their own homes.

Mr Opperman said: “It is so moving to see the interaction between the residents and the dogs. It is fantastic that Acomb Court host these visits and wonderful WAG & Company, a regional charity based here in Hexham, is having such a positive impact for older people in addressing feelings of loneliness and isolation. They have my full support.”

Diane Morton, chief executive of Wag and Company, added: “We’re very grateful to Guy for raising awareness of our lovely service and so proud of visiting WAG teams Audrey and Cassie and Judy with Tattie who really enjoyed introducing him to their friends at Acomb Court Care Home in Hexham.”