PURINA, together with TV star Angelina Kirsch, is committed to therapists on four paws.
Euskirchen. A curious look through the crack in the door, then Snow, Tiffany and Spirit happily push their snouts through the hospital door. The little patient begins to smile. Till has been looking forward to this moment for days. The therapy support dogs from Kinderschutzengel eV are visiting. The fluffy Australian Shepherds carefully sit down on his bed and snuggle up to the nine-year-old. It's rare moments like these that bring lightness and warmth into his everyday hospital life.
PURINA x Child Guardian Angel –
give hope together on four paws
Visiting and therapy support dogs provide relaxation and confidence and can demonstrably contribute to greater well-being.
The new collaboration with Kinderschutzengel eV is a project close to the heart for PURINA. The pet food manufacturer is now supporting the association's valuable work as an official sponsor. The company wants to make the health-promoting power of pets more visible and is supported by PURINA brand ambassador and model Angelina Kirsch.
At the start of the partnership, the TV presenter was able to see for herself the work of the association. Together with Kinderschutzengel founder Jacqueline Boy and her therapy support dogs, she visited the children's ward at the Helios Klinikum Emil von Behring in Berlin. “I was very touched by the visit to Till. The furry friends give children something that can hardly be put into words. They are real moments of happiness. Jacqueline's commitment deserves the greatest recognition and I am very happy that PURINA supports her work,” says Angelina Kirsch.
The therapy support dogs from Kinderschutzengel eV visit children in hospital and in outpatient care and provide sustainable, therapeutically sound support that focuses on relationships, stability and emotional development.
For more than ten years, Jacqueline Boy has been committed to helping children with her trained therapy dogs. Since 2023, the four-legged child guardian angels have also been called to help little anxious patients. The calming presence of dogs can help children find distraction, find time to relax, and stay calm during exams. Whether it's taking blood, preparing for operations or other examinations – the dogs are always at the child's side and provide strength and confidence.
Healing power of the human-animal relationship
PURINA believes that human-animal relationships are so strong that they can improve people's health and well-being, especially in difficult life situations. With strong partners such as Kinderschutzengel eV, the pet food manufacturer wants to raise awareness of the positive effects of animal-assisted intervention. “The work of Kinderschutzengel eV impressively shows how therapy support dogs give children moments of hope and strength. We want even more children to benefit from this and encourage other facilities to open up to animal-assisted help,” says Benedikt Schaumann, Corporate Communications Director PURINA.