Gentle English Bullmastiff becomes a regular visitor

Our Surrey care home has a large, and slightly unusual, regular visitor in the form of a gentle Bullmastiff who has won the hearts of our residents.

Willow, who is eight years old, and her owner Karen Pitt, are regular visitors here, at Acorn Court Care Home, in Redhill, through the charity Therapy Dogs Nationwide (TDN). They have been visiting our home once a month since March and they have built up strong, meaningful connections with our residents.

For many of our residents at our dementia specialist home Willow brings back happy memories of pets they once loved.

“I’ve had dogs all my life,” said resident Dan Daniels, 94, “My first dog was called Judy. I had a boxer dog for over 12 years, and my favourite dog was a beautiful West Highland Terrier called Jack. I love to give Willow biscuits.”

Resident Liz Dyer, 81, added, “I was 12 when I got my first dog. I’ve had around seven dogs in my life, and my last dog was a Sheltie called Folly.”

The English Bullmastiff breed can look large and imposing but they are known for their loyalty and their gentle, docile nature. Karen got Willow from the charity, Dog’s Trust, when Willow was 18 months old. Although she came from a loving home and had been well trained, her family no longer had the time to care for her. She is extremely calm, with a wonderfully laid-back temperament, and loves nothing more than fuss, cuddles and the occasional biscuit.

“We got into pet therapy work when my cousin, who is an ex-police dog handler, visited from Canada and instantly suggested that Willow would be perfect for the role,” Karen explained. “I was about to retire and I was considering volunteering opportunities, so it all fitted together perfectly.

“Willow underwent a rigorous assessment with Therapy Dogs Nationwide (TDN) to check her suitability. They checked how I handled her, how she responded to others and how we both dealt with different situations. For example, I had to show I could control her not to go for any food if it was dropped near her because in a care home that might be medication.

“They are a beautiful charity which does so much for many different people and they have a lovely team. Needless to say, Willow passed with flying colours!”

Animal-assisted therapy is known to reduce anxiety, encourage social interaction and spark long-held memories — something especially valuable for residents living with dementia.

“Willow gets a great welcome when we visit Acorn Court,” Karen said. “They have water bowls and dog treats for her in reception. We know Liz and Dan especially have a passion for dogs and adore Willow, so with the activity team we make sure we find them during our visits. They always give her a big cuddle. Willow brings them real joy, you can see it by the big smiles on their faces.

“Willow is very relaxed, she’s quite a lazy bones! She just loves to be stroked. Lots of the residents say, ‘Gosh that’s a big dog!’ and the main question I get asked is how much she eats – which is around 1-1.5kg of meat a day.

Our home was recently Highly Commended at the South-East region of the Great British Care Awards 2025 for the Dignity in Care category, recognition that our team are incredibly proud of. Our focus on championing independence and creating meaningful moments shines through in every part of daily life here, including Willow’s much-loved visits. With Karen, Willow spends time with residents in the communal lounges on each floor and she also visits individuals in their bedrooms, which reflects our home’s personalised care.

“I just love the visits because you might go into a room and a resident is initially hesitant but then their whole face will light up when they see Willow,” Karen continued. “In the lounges, you can spot immediately who loves dogs and they are very excited to see and fuss her. Of course, not all the residents are keen and that’s absolutely fine but usually as the session goes on, the enthusiasm spreads around the room and lots more residents join in. One benefit of her being so big is that she’s easy for the residents to reach, and we get her sitting nice and close. Willow loves all the residents.

“We look forward to our visits, and the team is brilliant too. They’re so accommodating if we ever need to adjust the routine – especially during Willow’s medical appointments.”

Willow was diagnosed with cancer last year and had two tumours removed from her face in November 2024 leaving her with a scar. The cancer returned in April and, given her age, Karen has chosen not to put her through chemotherapy but to focus on keeping her comfortable and happy for as long as possible. At home, Willow has her own bedroom and sleeps on a large dog bed, complete with her own duvet and pillow. She also has another bed in the lounge so she can sit with the family.

“She’s definitely a pampered pet,” Karen laughed.

Our lifestyles coordinator Tina Charlwood says, “Willow brings a different kind of love to our home and connects with our residents on a different level and in a way that’s especially powerful for those living with dementia. It’s brilliant residents with a passion for dogs, like Dan and Liz, can experience these visits regularly as they have really built up a bond with her which brings them a huge amount of joy and comfort. We all look forward to her visits, residents and team members alike!”

Acorn Court Care Home is an 86-bed home in Redhill, Surrey, offering residential, nursing, specialist dementia, acquired brain injury (ABI) and compassionate end-of-life care. We also deliver Namaste Care both 1-1 and in small groups. This is an important part of our dementia care which involves a range of holistic, sensory therapies including aromatherapy, hand massages and sound and light therapy, to promote deep rest and relaxation.