Benji the physiotherapy assistant

“Benji comes to the clinic once a week. He has his own bed and rope toy at work!” says Deb. “He’s a ‘velcro dog’ so he doesn’t like being left at home alone. It’s comforting to know he’s being looked after while he’s at work with me and the staff.”

One of Deb’s clients, Isabel, a 15-year-old basketballer, began weekly sessions at Inspired Physiotherapy after tearing ligaments in her ankle during practice.

“Understandably, she was nervous at first and in pain,” says Deb. “Rehabilitation can be physically and emotionally challenging, particularly for teens recovering from injury.”

But that changed when Isabel met Benji.

“Benji was a real comfort to Isabel. He’d come over for a pat and help distract her while I worked on her injury. He made her laugh and helped make the sessions more fun and comfortable. It made a big difference,” she explains.

Benji isn’t just a support for young clients; he’s also a favourite in the mature-aged classes, providing entertainment as participants do their resistance exercises.

“He’s part of the atmosphere now, lifting everyone’s spirits,” Deb says. “So many people love Benji. It’s great that he gets to bring joy to their lives while we (therapists) get to help them as well.”

The benefits go both ways, as Benji gets to meet new people, build confidence and practice impulse control, which is important for a high-energy, social breed like the German Shorthaired Pointer, Deb says, adding “It’s also been great for Benji’s training.”

Of course, not everyone is a dog lover.

“One of our staff members is more of a cat person, so we try to make sure Benji’s distracted with something else when she’s around,” says Deb.

“Also, a few of our clients aren’t comfortable with dogs or are allergic, so that’s when Benji usually gets taken by reception to go on a toilet break or is relegated to the reception area for the client’s session.”

Deb is a strong advocate for pet-inclusive policies in the workplace.

“From our experience, pets in the workplace is good for all parties involved. It creates a talking point to form rapport and, for the most part, reduces stress. Free pet therapy!” she laughs.