Ace and Mabel: Volunteer Simon's pawfect team
After years travelling the world with the Army and spending long periods in hospital following major surgery, Simon Wellen, from Whitstable, decided he wanted to give something back to patients.
Now 62, he volunteers with his therapy dog German Shepherd, Ace, visiting patients in Whitstable and Tankerton Hospital to bring comfort, companionship and the occasional wagging tail.
Ace, a German Shepherd rescue dog, joined the family when he was two years old after being badly treated in a previous home.
“He was a nervous wreck when I first got him,” he said. “But we quickly realised he loved children and he just needed love and attention. I’ve never shouted at him. He’s such a good lad.”
Eighteen months ago, the pair took the next step and had Ace assessed to become a therapy dog.
“I’d seen dogs visiting people in hospital when I was a patient myself and I always thought how nice it was,” he said. “I’ve had two knee replacements and a hip replacement and once spent four weeks in hospital with a serious infection. At one point I thought I might lose my legs.
“When you’ve spent that much time in hospital you understand what patients are going through.”
Before retiring from the Army, he travelled the world and experienced events that later contributed to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Ace has been his support.“He’s part and parcel of my recovery,” he said. “I talk to him about everything.”
Now the pair spend their time helping others – and Ace has become something of a local celebrity around Whitstable and Tankerton.
One of the most meaningful parts of the visits is spending time with patients receiving end of life care. He’ll often walk over and gently put his head on the pillow next to someone,” he said. “You see their face light up and they smile. That’s the nicest part for me – bringing a smile to someone’s face in their final moments, you can’t put a price on that.”
Ace also lends a paw during rehabilitation sessions. Simon explained: “The physios sometimes get Ace to stand at one end of the room and patients will walk towards him with their frames. It encourages them to do their exercises – they just want to get to him for a cuddle.”
For patients who have pets at home, the visits can be especially powerful. He said: “Some people haven’t seen their own animals for weeks or months,” he said. “They sit and chat about their pets while stroking Ace. It gives them a chance to think about something happy.”
Ace has even helped KCHFT colleagues overcome their fear of dogs. Simon recalled: “One of the students was terrified of dogs. After meeting Ace he even asked if his daughter could come and meet him.”
At home, the family have recently welcomed a new four-legged recruit – another German Shepherd puppy called Mabel. She was a Christmas surprise for his wife, who lost her previous dog three years ago. Mabel will start puppy training soon and, if all goes well, may one day follow in Ace’s paw prints as a therapy dog.
“She’s still young and a bit boisterous,” he said. “But hopefully one day she’ll be helping people just like Ace does.”
