34 Section 2
Continued
Case Study 7 – Our Special Friends (by Belinda Johnston, Our Special Friends,
England)
Our Special Friends (OSF) – ‘helping people and animals help each other’ – is a
veterinary-led charity based in Suffolk, UK. Its work is focused on the local com-
munity to help isolated and vulnerable people, of any age, to continue to benefit
from the companionship of animals through financial need, physical disability or
ill health, enhancing well-being through practical and emotional support ser-
vices and animal-assisted activities.
Its free support is provided by local volunteers, and by working in collaboration
with human health and social care organizations, as well as with veterinarians
(a)