Furry Friends Family
Behind every visit is an incredible group of carefully selected therapy animals who truly make Furry Friends what it is.
Each one is chosen for their calm temperament, confidence, and natural ability to connect with others. Every animal brings something unique, whether that’s creating moments of calm, encouraging interaction, or simply brightening someone’s day.
They are a huge part of what makes each session so special, and the connections they create with people are something we are incredibly proud of.
Buttercup
Our absolutely beautiful miniature Shetland therapy pony. Buttercup brings a calm and reassuring presence to our sessions. She is well-trained and experienced in visiting a variety of settings, including indoor environments, and is known for her patient and friendly nature.
Buttercup is confident using lifts and enjoys being able to visit those who are bedbound, helping to ensure that everyone can be included and experience her calming presence.
She enjoys close interaction and is a favourite for creating special, confidence-building moments. Her calm temperament makes her especially suited to therapeutic and sensory-based sessions, where she helps to create a relaxed and engaging atmosphere.
Eddie
The most gentle donkey ever, Eddie. He is a newer member of the Furry Friends family. He has a calm and friendly nature and is gradually building his experience within our sessions, taking everything in his stride.
Eddie enjoys quiet, one-to-one interaction and brings a naturally grounding presence, helping to create calm and meaningful moments. As he continues to grow in confidence, he is carefully supported and guided in a range of settings to ensure his comfort and wellbeing at all times.
His gentle temperament makes him a lovely addition to our sessions, offering a different kind of connection that many people find both soothing and engaging.
Audrey
The sweetest sugar glider, a small but incredibly unique member of the Furry Friends family. With her curious nature and gentle personality, she brings something truly special to our sessions.
Audrey is handled solely by her primary handler, Imogen, ensuring her comfort and wellbeing at all times. Interaction is gentle and guided, with opportunities for a light one-finger touch of her soft fur when appropriate, allowing individuals to experience a connection while respecting her needs.
As a nocturnal species, Audrey offers a fascinating educational experience, helping people to learn about different behaviours, habitats, and care requirements. She is often seen enjoying one of her favourite treats — a jelly pot — which always captures attention and brings a little extra joy to the session.
Mistletoe (Skinnypig herd)
The skinny pig herd, a unique type of guinea pig known for their hairless appearance and wonderfully soft, warm skin. Despite their unusual look, they are incredibly gentle, friendly, and quickly become a favourite in our sessions.
Skinnypigs are well suited to calm, hands-on interaction and absolutely love snuggles, often settling in comfortably during gentle handling. Their warm skin and distinctive feel create a rich sensory experience, making them especially beneficial within therapeutic and wellbeing-focused sessions.
They also provide a great opportunity to learn about different types of animals, how they are cared for, and what makes each species unique. Their curious and affectionate nature helps to encourage confidence, connection, and positive engagement.
All interactions are carefully guided by trained handlers, ensuring both participant safety and animal welfare at all times.
Jack
Our amazing giant bunny who never fails to capture attention with his impressive size and gentle nature.
Despite being much larger than a typical rabbit, Jack is incredibly calm, friendly, and loves being held like a baby, happily settling in and soaking up all the fuss and attention. His soft fur and relaxed temperament make him perfect for gentle, hands-on interaction, often creating a real sense of comfort and connection.
Jack’s size makes him especially memorable, offering a unique experience that sparks curiosity and conversation. He is a wonderful way to introduce people to different types of animals, while encouraging confidence, engagement, and positive interaction.
All interactions are carefully guided by trained handlers, ensuring both participant safety and animal welfare at all times.
Flopsy & Mopsy
The mini lop duo, loved for their soft fur, floppy ears, and gentle, affectionate nature.
These two enjoy calm, hands-on interaction and are very comfortable being held and stroked, making them perfect for relaxed, one-to-one engagement. Their smaller size and sweet personalities make them especially popular with those who may feel a little unsure around larger animals.
Flopsy and Mopsy bring a sense of comfort and calm to sessions, often helping to build confidence and encourage gentle interaction. Their curious and friendly nature makes them a joy to spend time with, creating lovely, meaningful moments of connection.
All interactions are carefully guided by trained handlers, ensuring both participant safety and animal welfare at all times.
Prickles
African pygmy hedgehog, named Prickles ... because of his... prickles.
Although covered in spines, hedgehogs are gentle by nature and can be handled in a calm and supported way. With guidance, individuals can experience a unique form of interaction, learning how to approach and handle them safely and respectfully.
Hedgehogs offer a wonderful opportunity to explore different types of animals, including nocturnal species, and to learn about their behaviours, habitats, and care. Their unusual appearance often sparks curiosity and encourages questions, helping to build confidence and understanding.
Their mix of soft fur and protective spines creates an interesting sensory experience, making them a memorable part of any session. He loves cuddles!
All interactions are carefully guided by trained handlers, ensuring both participant safety and animal welfare at all times.
Dory
Our Horsefield tortoise, a calm and fascinating member of the Furry Friends family.
Dory is known for her gentle, steady nature and offers a wonderfully grounding presence within sessions. She enjoys exploring at her own pace, allowing individuals to observe and engage in a calm and relaxed way.
Dory is slightly smaller than expected for her species, which makes her a little extra special. She provides a great opportunity to learn about reptiles, their environments, and how they are cared for, helping to spark curiosity and understanding.
Her slow movements and quiet nature create a peaceful, sensory experience, encouraging patience, observation, and gentle interaction.
All interactions are carefully guided by trained handlers, ensuring both participant safety and animal welfare at all times.
Sid & Bob
These gentle creatures move slowly and peacefully, offering a wonderfully relaxed and grounding experience. They are perfect for encouraging patience, observation, and a different kind of interaction compared to more active animals.
Sid and Bob provide a unique sensory experience, with the opportunity to gently observe and, where appropriate, feel their smooth shells and slow, careful movements. They are a great way to introduce people to invertebrates in a positive and engaging way.
Their unusual appearance often captures attention straight away, helping to build confidence and interest, especially for those who may not have encountered animals like this before.
All interactions are carefully guided by trained handlers, ensuring both participant safety and animal welfare at all times.
Suzy
Meet Suzy, our beautiful silkie chicken, known for her incredibly soft, fluffy feathers and calm, gentle nature.
Suzy is very relaxed during sessions and enjoys being held and stroked, making her a lovely addition to calm, hands-on interactions. Her unique texture creates a soothing sensory experience, often bringing comfort and curiosity to those meeting her.
She also has a bit of a funny side and quite often thinks she’s a parrot, happily perching on shoulders and taking in everything going on around her.
Suzy offers a wonderful opportunity to learn about different types of animals and how they are cared for, while also encouraging gentle handling, confidence, and connection.
All interactions are carefully guided by trained handlers, ensuring both participant safety and animal welfare at all times.
Smokey
He is super calm and a very easy-going Bearded Dragon and comfortable being handled, making him a great introduction to reptiles for those who may feel unsure. His gentle nature allows for calm, supported interaction, helping to build confidence and curiosity in a safe environment.
He enjoys sitting quietly and taking everything in around him, often becoming a peaceful and grounding part of the session. His unique appearance and texture also provide an interesting sensory experience, encouraging gentle exploration and engagement.
Smokey offers a fantastic opportunity to learn about reptiles, including their behaviour, habitats, and care, helping to create a deeper understanding of these often misunderstood animals.
All interactions are carefully guided by trained handlers, ensuring both participant safety and animal welfare at all times.
Monty
A ball python, that everyone (even those who are scared) end up falling completely inlove with. As a calm and gentle reptile who helps introduce people to snakes in a safe and positive way this young man is a huge part in every visit.
Monty is known for his relaxed temperament and is comfortable being handled by his experienced handler. Interactions are always carefully guided, allowing individuals to observe and, where appropriate, take part in gentle, supported contact.
He is well suited to working with individuals who may feel anxious or unsure around snakes, including those with fears or phobias. Sessions are always approached at a comfortable pace, helping to build confidence gradually in a calm and supportive environment.
Monty offers a unique opportunity to learn about reptiles, including their behaviour, habitats, and care, while also encouraging curiosity and understanding. For many, meeting him becomes a positive and confidence-building experience.
All interactions are carefully guided by trained handlers, ensuring both participant safety and animal welfare at all times.
Muffin
Our fluffy cloud... in other words, ragdoll cat, known for his soft coat, calm nature, and love of being close to people.
Muffin chooses to be close at all times and is often described as an extra limb, happily settling beside you and becoming part of the moment. His relaxed temperament creates a calm and reassuring presence within sessions, offering comfort through quiet companionship.
Ragdoll cats are well known for their calm, affectionate, and easy-going nature, making them particularly well suited to therapeutic environments. Muffin naturally shows many of these traits, which is why he is being supported on his journey towards becoming a therapy cat.
Muffin is currently in the early stages of this process. As he is still a kitten, his experiences are carefully managed to support his development and wellbeing.
During this training period, Muffin is handled solely by his primary handler. This is in line with species-specific welfare guidance and best practice for animals being introduced to therapeutic environments, ensuring his safety, confidence, and long-term suitability.
His affectionate and gentle personality already makes him a much-loved part of the team, bringing warmth, calm, and connection to those around him.
All interactions are carefully guided, ensuring both participant safety and animal welfare at all times.
Committed to Animal Welfare
Animal welfare is at the heart of everything we do. Many of our animals have been rescued or thoughtfully rehomed, and only those best suited in temperament and confidence are chosen to take part in sessions.
We maintain high standards of care through regular health checks, tailored husbandry, and careful transport planning. Sessions are limited to ensure all animals have plenty of rest, and their wellbeing is always prioritised above all else.