No upsetting pictures on this link

The start of Dr. Dog in Jill's own words:

"The saying "It's a dogs life" for when someone has reached their lowest point, sadly rings true for literally millions of dogs - and cats - across Asia. Often dismissed as dirty, or even dangerous, by people fearing the risk of rabies and disease, their suffering is compounded, as millions more are cruelly raised and slaughtered each year as food for the table.

In 1991, during an influx of pedigree "designer dogs" entering Hong Kong (who were then often thrown out into the streets when people became tired with their new "toys") and tortured by images of yet another dog dying by deliberate hanging in South Korea, or a cat being bludgeoned in China, I began reading about something described as "animal therapy" in hospitals in the UK. As I sat in the office absorbed by the power of this unique concept, Max, my beloved Golden Retriever was in his usual place by my chair. The message from his trusting brown eyes as he looked up at mine couldn't have been more compelling and the seed for "Dr. Dog" was planted. Here potentially was a new idea for an old problem - one that could possibly reach into the community, could show how much dogs and cats can help and enrich our lives and, at last, could begin restoring respect for animals in Asia .

The next few weeks of trying to get the programme off the ground were the most testing of all. Time and time again my calls were rejected by people who couldn't believe I was seriously suggesting bringing a "dirty, smelly, unhygienic mutt" into a sterile hospital environment. Things looked up when the Staff Nurse of the Duchess of Kent Children's Hospital agreed to allow "one dog, for one hour, in the garden" and a few days later, whilst doctors, nursing staff and the media looked on, Max sat patiently in the grounds as disabled children were brought out to see him. One paraplegic teenager lying flat in his bed was wheeled to the front and, as Max rose up on his hind legs and gently placed his massive golden paws onto the side of the bed, the boy's face lit up with a radiant smile...and Dr. Dog was born."