Care Home and Hospice Visits

We can bring several different animals to visit your residents in care homes, hospices’ and hospitals.

We normally supply Humboldt Penguins for a 1 hour appearance at homes, however please see below list of other animals we can supply:

• Squirrel Monkeys

• Selection of Reptiles

• Llama

• Miniature Donkey

This service was prompted by the high demand we received from care homes. Many care homes extol the benefits of animal-assisted therapy. Without exception, all visits have been met with hugely positive responses from residents. Many care home managers and staff support the claims that interacting with animals improves emotional, social and cognitive abilities in residents. Due to the unusual nature of the trained animals supplied by our zoo, there is an extra layer of interest and therefore mental enrichment for those who are just used to pet animals. This makes for a joyful event shared by the care home community. However, due the animals placid and socialised natures, the interactive appeal of the visit also promotes a calming and stress-reducing effect on residents. The visits can help trigger happy memories in individuals as well as create new ones, both of which can prompt social interaction between residents through discussions. 

Our visits are weekdays only, normally at 11.00am or 2.30pm, or a time that suits you.

Please complete the submission form on this page with the full address of the home, any dates you have in mind and what animals you would like to see. Please either call 01608 683 389 between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. Monday-Friday. Enquiries will be answered within 24-48 hours Monday-Friday. Please call if you haven’t heard back within the time frame (please check your junk folder)

Complete this form to submit your interest

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Barchester Healthcare

Two very special guests waddled their way into the hearts of residents and colleagues at Ashcombe House Care Home in Basingstoke. Meet Widget and Two-dots, the adorable Humboldt penguins. The charming duo delighted everyone as they roamed through the home, stopping for cuddles with residents, visitors and staff alike. Their gentle nature brought immense joy and happiness to all. With sprats as their favourite treat, Widget and Two-dots were two very content penguins. A big thank you to Amazing Animals, Heythrop Zoological Gardens for making this incredible experience possible.

To find out more about life at Ashcombe House Care Home - Barchester Healthcare, please visit their website: https://www.barchester.com/home/ashcombe-house-care-home

OSJCT Larkrise Care Centre

Thank you to Heythrop Zoological Gardens for coming and treating our residents to a once in a lifetime opportunity. Pringle and Widget were welcomed into our home, where we learnt about them and even got to have a cuddle!

The look on our residents faces speak volumes! It was a fantastic morning!

Frimley Health

Patients and staff were treated to a ppp-perfect pet therapy session at #FrimleyParkHospital today when Widget and Pringle, two Humbolt penguins from Heythrop Zoological Gardens, waddled in with their keeper.

Making a fleeting visit from their zoological home, the loveable penguins brought delight to patients and staff, and even our cheeky little #FrimleyHealthElf, Noel, got in on the act!

Brendoncare Otterbourne Hill

There was some serious monkey business at Brendoncare Otterbourne Hill yesterday. Adorable squirrel monkeys 11 year old Antonio and his three year old son Sharkey delighted residents, colleagues, relatives and volunteers with their antics and cheekiness. Both of them and their handlers came from Heythrop Zoological Gardens to meet everyone at Otterbourne Hill. The visit was made possible through a donation made by a resident and their family for the residents' wellbeing fund. After much consideration, and after a fantastic visit from penguins last Christmas, they decided they would like to enjoy another animal experience. The monkeys made some very special memories for everyone at Otterbourne Hill as these delightful photographs show.

Having spent the morning charming the patients and staff at North Cotswolds Hospital, penguins Pringle and Widget waddled on over to Tewkesbury Community Hospital this afternoon, where they received yet another enthusiastic welcome. The Humboldt penguins, Pringle (aged 12) and Widget (aged 7), are pictured here meeting Deputy Service Director Juliette Richardson, Matron Julie Ellery and staff at Tewkesbury Hospital, during a day out from their home at Heythrop Zoological Gardens in Oxfordshire.

Gloucestershire Health and Care NHS Foundation Trust

“Pringle and Widget charmed staff and service users alike at Charlton Lane Hospital in Cheltenham yesterday afternoon when they popped in for a visit. The Humboldt penguin couple posed for photos with colleagues and patients – many of whom fundraised to support the visit. Our thanks to fundraisers, Heythrop Zoological Gardens, Pringle and Widget for cheering up a grey January day.”

OSJCT Avonbourne Care Centre

We had a visit from Pringle and Widget today, two Humboldt penguins from Heythrop Zoological Gardens. It was so lovely to meet them and we were surprised how soft they are!