The Humans Behind It All
Helen Bellis
Helen is the founder and owner of Furry Friends Animal Therapy, which she established in 2017 alongside her sister, Emma. What began as a shared passion has grown into a much-loved service, bringing comfort, connection, and meaningful interaction to a wide range of settings including care homes, community groups, and events.
As an Animal-Assisted Therapy Practitioner, Helen leads the day-to-day running of Furry Friends, carefully planning and delivering sessions that are both engaging and welfare-led. Her approach is centred around creating calm, positive experiences, where individuals can connect with animals in a way that feels safe, supportive, and meaningful.
Helen’s work is driven by a genuine belief in the powerful impact that animals can have on emotional wellbeing. She has seen first-hand how these interactions can bring comfort, spark conversation, build confidence, and create moments of joy, particularly for those who may be vulnerable, isolated, or living with additional needs.
Furry Friends was created not only to support people, but also to give animals the very best quality of life. Many of the animals within their care have been rescued or rehomed, and Helen is deeply committed to ensuring their welfare always comes first. Every animal is carefully assessed, supported, and only involved in sessions where they are comfortable and confident.
Helen runs Furry Friends alongside a full-time professional role, balancing a busy family life as a mum and wife. Her dedication to the animals and the people she works with is clear in the time, care, and attention she puts into every aspect of the business.
She is proudly neurodivergent, with ADHD, which she sees as a strength within her work. It brings creativity, energy, adaptability, and a deeply empathetic approach to the way she connects with both people and animals.
Behind the scenes, Helen continues to develop and grow Furry Friends, with a strong focus on maintaining high standards, expanding opportunities, and ensuring that every visit remains safe, ethical, and meaningful.
Helen’s passion, compassion, and commitment are at the heart of everything Furry Friends Animal Therapy represents.
Imogen Helen Szecowka
Imogen is an Animal-Assisted Therapy Practitioner at Furry Friends Animal Therapy, supporting the delivery of sessions across care homes, educational settings, and community environments.
Her work focuses on creating calm, engaging, and meaningful interactions between people and animals, with a strong emphasis on individual needs, emotional wellbeing, and inclusive practice. Imogen has a particular interest in supporting individuals with additional needs, using animal-assisted interaction to encourage confidence, communication, and connection.
Imogen is neurodivergent and lives with ADHD, alongside her own lived experience of mental health and complex trauma (CPTSD). She recognises this as a strength within her work, allowing her to bring a deeper level of empathy, understanding, and connection to the individuals she supports. Her approach is intuitive and person-centred, creating a safe and supportive environment where people feel seen, understood, and comfortable.
Having lived in a number of different countries, including spending part of her childhood in the Middle East, Imogen has developed a strong ability to connect with people from a wide range of backgrounds and life experiences. This brings an added level of understanding and adaptability to the work she does within diverse settings.
Alongside her practical work, Imogen is continuing to develop her knowledge within the field, currently working towards further qualifications in animal welfare, therapeutic practice and British Sign Language (BSL). She is passionate about maintaining high standards within animal-assisted work, ensuring that every interaction is safe, respectful, and led by the needs of both the individual and the animal.
Imogen works closely with a wide range of species, carefully adapting sessions to suit each environment. She has a particular interest in smaller and more specialist animals, and is the primary handler for Audrey the sugar glider, Skinnypigs and Muffin the ragdoll cat, ensuring their care, handling, and participation in sessions is closely managed and supported.
Outside of her role, Imogen is a dedicated solo mum and home educates her daughter, creating a nurturing and enriching environment that reflects her values of connection, learning, and wellbeing. Alongside this, she cares for a variety of animals at home, further strengthening her hands-on knowledge of behaviour, welfare, and handling.
Her approach is calm, thoughtful, and compassionate, allowing her to build strong, meaningful connections with both the individuals she works with and the animals in her care.
Imogen’s passion for animal welfare, combined with her lived experience and commitment to person-centred practice, makes her an integral part of the Furry Friends team.
Cain Parkin
Cain is a valued member of the Furry Friends Animal Therapy team, bringing a wealth of knowledge, passion, and enthusiasm to every session.
Helen first met Cain during a visit to the assisted living setting where he lives, where his natural interest in animals and engagement stood out. Since then, he has become an important part of the team, contributing his time, care, and dedication to the work we do.
Cain is autistic, and his deep focus and genuine interest in animals — particularly reptiles — is one of his greatest strengths. He has developed an incredible knowledge base and loves sharing fascinating facts, helping to make sessions both engaging and educational for those attending.
He has formed a particularly strong bond with Monty the ball python, working closely with him and helping others to feel more confident and curious around reptiles.
Cain is fantastic with all of the animals and shows a natural ability to handle and care for them with patience and respect. He is equally brilliant with the people he meets during sessions, creating a welcoming, friendly, and engaging environment wherever he goes.
His calm, caring nature and passion for animals shine through in everything he does. Cain is a much-loved part of the team, and we truly value having him as part of Furry Friends Animal Therapy.
Molly Lee
Molly is an Animal-Assisted Therapy Practitioner at Furry Friends Animal Therapy, with a particular specialism in equine-based work.
She studied equine at Bishop Burton College, where she developed a strong foundation in horse care, behaviour, handling, and welfare. This knowledge has been carried into her work with Furry Friends, where she plays a key role in supporting pony and donkey visits, ensuring they are delivered safely, calmly, and in line with high welfare standards.
Molly has a natural ability to work confidently with larger animals, bringing a calm and steady presence that helps both the animals and the individuals she works with feel at ease. Her understanding of equine behaviour allows her to recognise subtle cues, ensuring that interactions are always appropriate, respectful, and positive for everyone involved.
She is equally amazing with smaller animals, showing a natural connection and calm energy that they instinctively respond to. She has a gentle, intuitive way with them, building trust quickly and ensuring they feel safe and comfortable within sessions.
Molly is fantastic with both animals and people, creating a welcoming and supportive environment. Her caring and patient nature helps to build confidence, particularly for those who may feel unsure, allowing them to engage at their own pace.
Her passion for animal work is clear in everything she does, and she takes pride in ensuring that each session is not only enjoyable, but also meaningful and well-structured. She is knowledgeable, approachable, and always happy to share her understanding, helping to create engaging and educational experiences.
Molly’s dedication, compassion, and natural ability with animals make her an incredibly valued part of the Furry Friends Animal Therapy team.