A resident who always wanted to see an owl up close, had an absolute hoot when feathered friends visited her care home.
Lifelong animal lover Joan Reeves, 88, was to be able to give Acorn, a tawny owl, and Nelly, a barn owl, a soft landing on her arm during the very special visit to Care UK's Millers Grange on Curbridge Road in Witney.
Growing up Mrs Reeves' home was always full of animals and that’s where her love for all creatures great and small was born.
She has a strong affinity for owls in particular and was always fascinated by the way they look.
Her home was decorated with a range of owl ornaments and figurines and she remains captivated by the beautiful birds of prey.
The owls were brought into the home by Chrissie’s Owls, a sanctuary in Stonesfield, and are friendly, relaxed creatures which are used to human contact.
Mrs Reeves said: “It was lovely to see the owls, they are such majestic animals. I loved meeting Acorn and Nelly and it was beautiful to be able to get to hold of Acorn – it definitely made my day!”
The visit was part of the home’s ‘Wishing Tree’ Initiative, where residents can put wishes forward - perhaps allowing them to reconnect with a past hobby or try something completely new from flying on a plane to enjoying a fish and chip supper - and staff will try to make it come true.
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Mark Young, customer relations manager at Millers Grange, said: “We are always seeking new and exciting activities for residents to enjoy. Animal therapy has proven to be incredibly beneficial for older people, as it can often prompt conversations and have a calming effect.
“We were delighted to welcome Chrissie’s Owls into the home to be able to make such a lovely wish come true for Joan, as she has always talked about her love of owls with a passion. Seeing her face light up when they arrived made it all worth it.
“It was fantastic to welcome these wise birds into the home, and definitely a day we will remember for a long time.”
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