There were plenty of smiles and squeals when some rather unusual visitors slithered into a Birmingham care home for an afternoon to remember.
Residents at Cofton Park Manor Care Home, Lickey Road, proved it’s never too late to make new friends when they got up close and personal with a fascinating collection of snakes during a special visit from AnimalTastic – The Animal Lady.
The exotic guests certainly caused a stir as residents bravely held, stroked and learned all about the reptiles, with laughter echoing through the lounge as many discovered that snakes aren’t quite as scary as they might look.
Resident Ann Cheetham loves snakes. She said: “It was just magic having them visit, they have so much personality and are very gentle.”
Animal expert Sarah Foxall, who runs AnimalTastic across Bromsgrove, Rubery and Barnt Green, brought along the slithery stars and shared her knowledge with residents and staff alike.
Sarah said: “It was a lovely afternoon seeing all the residents interact with all the different animals.
“You could really see their curiosity and confidence grow as they learned more about them. By the end of the session, many people who were a little unsure at first were happily holding the snakes and asking lots of questions.”
Sarah has extensive experience in animal welfare and enjoys bringing animals into community settings where people can meet creatures they might never normally encounter.
Cofton Park Manor Community Relations Manager Wendy Sibley said: “It was amazing to see the reactions of our residents to the animals.
“Animals have a wonderful way of bringing people together. They spark conversation, create shared experiences and often bring back happy memories for our residents of pets they have loved in the past.
“We all learnt so much more about snakes and, for many of us, it was a chance to overcome our fears.”
Resident Iris Bessent added: “It’s lovely to have the snakes visit, I just hope they haven’t left any of them behind!”
The visit proved such a hit that residents are already hoping for another animal adventure in the future.
