by Angela Cole

acole@thekmgroup.co.uk

He might have more need of a vet than a doctor, but four-legged Dudley is to become a regular visitor at Maidstone Hospital.

The six-year-old springer spaniel and his owner Olga Shelton, visited the stroke unit to provide therapy for patients going through rehabilitation.

They visited as part of the Pets As Therapy charity’s work which gives people the chance of meeting a calm and friendly canine and it is hoped he will start making weekly visits.

Olga, who lives in Larkfield, said: “I wanted to get involved with Pets As Therapy after my late mother had a stroke.

"She was in a care home and at the time, I had another springer spaniel called Bogart, who would often come with me to visit her. She really got something special out of his visits and it’s because of this, and my mum, that I wanted to give something back. This seemed like the perfect way.”