On Friday 2nd October – just two days before World Animal Day – South Yorkshire Supertram welcomed Nya, a seven year old German Shepherd who is registered as a therapy dog with Pets as Therapy.
The idea behind the visit was to promote the positive role animals can play in supporting wellbeing and creating more welcoming travel environments.
Nya regularly visits stations on the rail network and meets passengers and colleagues. Her calm nature and friendly presence can help people feel more relaxed, reduce stress and anxiety, and encourage positive social interaction.
Nya’s owner is Steve O’Callaghan, who is Safeguarding and Crime Prevention Lead at Transpennine Express, said: “I registered Nya as a Therapy Dog with Pets As Therapy, the UK’s largest organisation of its kind, because I wanted to combine my passion for dogs with my experience in safeguarding.
“Nya comes with me on trains and to stations, where she meets passengers and colleagues and puts a smile on people’s faces. She can help people who may be nervous or experiencing a difficult time, creating a positive environment and helping them feel more confident when travelling.
“On one occasion, a passenger who was having a particularly bad day thanked me and told me that Nya had helped break the cycle of negative thoughts they were experiencing. That moment inspired me to develop the initiative into what it is today.
“The opportunity to bring together my work with TransPennine Express in heavy rail with Supertram and light rail is a fantastic collaboration. I’m really pleased to have been able to visit the Supertram network, meet colleagues and passengers, and share the positive impact Nya can have.”