By VANESSA VALENZUELA
BETTY Butty and her playful pooch BJ have been lighting up the lives of patients and staff at Sunshine Hospital for almost a decade.
The 79-year-old St Albans resident visits the hospital every week with her loveable canine to meet patients and help brighten up their day.
Betty stumbled across her volunteering role when she visited the hospital for physiotherapy treatment on her shoulder.
She wondered if there were any pet therapy programs available at the time and decided to introduce the staff to her puppy BJ.
The well-trained pup was an instant hit with the hospital workers who encouraged Betty to take part in the volunteer pet program.
The team has given up its time to visit patients at Sunshine Hospital once a week, every week, for almost 10 years.
“It’s not only beneficial to the patients, but also to the staff and the visitors,” Betty said.
“The reaction to BJ is amazing. I am approached every week by a visitor and so many want to take his photo.”
Betty said a usual Thursday afternoon would involve walking around to the different wards where patients can pat and play with BJ.
“You see the looks on people’s faces and the reaction he can bring out in people. And I’ve never seen so many people smile,” Betty said.
“You can have a patient who’s feeling down and depressed and I walk in with BJ and they change immediately.”
When she isn’t volunteering at the hospital, Betty likes to keep active by exercising regularly and taking line-dancing classes each week.
Betty Butty is a nominee for the Star Volunteer of the Year Award.
Each week a different volunteer will be profiled and a winner of the inaugural award will be announced 8 January next year.
Do you know a worthy volunteer? Please send details to star@starnewsgroup.com.au
