As Chinese New Year welcomes the Year of the Snake, slithering serpents have been getting to know Newcastle-under-Lyme's older community, with residents and tenants at Belong care village playing host for a special meet-and-greet to mark the celebration.  

Chinchillas, tortoises and even dragon lizards spent an afternoon in the care of the Lower Street community, with Belong customers petting the exotic creatures, finding out all about them, and in some cases, daring to 'wear' them wrapped around their persons.   

Apartment tenant, Mary Burndrett, 84, said: "I have always been an avid watcher of David Attenborough-type programmes. Because of the visit I have been able to touch the animals – I expected them to feel warm, but they weren't!" 

Belong Newcastle-under-Lyme apartment tenant, Mary Burndrett, meets Bullie, an albino bull snake (Belong).

The session was arranged by the village's experience team as part of its vibrant programme of activities for its customers and wider community, with Staffordshire-based Critterish Allsorts called upon to facilitate the animal assisted therapy.  

Participants benefitted from the chance to try something new, forge fresh friendships, and enjoy a sense of camaraderie by encouraging one another to touch, hold and wear the lesser-known creatures.  

In addition, it proved to support the wellbeing of those living with dementia, as Emma Palin, experience and heritage coordinator at Belong Newcastle-under-Lyme, explains: "Animal therapy provides the opportunity to socialise without the need to engage in conversation, so our customers with little or no verbal communication could join in, too. It gave them a sense of companionship whilst offering mental stimulation – they really got a lotout of it. 

"What a wonderful afternoon our customers have had! The session was a hit, and everyone left with big smiles and happy hearts. We look forward to welcoming our new animal friends back soon."  

More information about Belong can be found at www.belong.org.uk or by emailing [email protected].

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