Border collies, Taff and Meg, make weekly visits to Nightingale House as part of a programme to cheer-up patients.

The loveable pair are 'pat dogs' for national charity Pets As Therapy.

The charity have more than 4,000 registered dogs who visit hospitals, hospices, special needs schools and day care centres to provide much needed therapy to patients suffering from a number of illnesses.

Maureen Hennis, chief executive of the charity told the Evening Leader: "The dogs are used in all sorts of ways. From working with children who suffer from debilitating animal phobias, to stroke patients, to people with clinical depression."

"They go wherever they are needed. The dogs provide comfort and companionship when people are cut off from animals.

"In stroke patients they get people to use their limbs again. With people suffering from clinical depression, they tend to go into their own world.

"They start speaking to the dogs. They are getting through to people where other humans have failed."

Audrey Wilson, owner of Meg and Taff, began volunteering for the charity in January after being involved in a car accident.

"Taff used to be an agility dog but was injured in the car crash. My husband also went through bowel cancer and there was a lot going on," she said.

"Someone suggested that I get into the social work side of things with the dogs so I looked it up on the internet.

"They have to be special kinds of dogs to be 'pat dogs.' They are tested rigorously for behaviour because they have to be able to let anybody touch them.

"Meg and Taff are lovely dogs and everybody comments on them. They just know everybody.

"The pair of them dote on children."

Audrey visits the hospice each week with one of the dogs, and she also visits the rehabilitation unit at the Maelor as well as a number of residential homes and sheltered accomodation.

She believes the dogs give a lot of happiness to the people she visits.

"I find it really satisfying and the response I get from patients is marvellous.

"It chokes me to see sometimes because people can get quite upset.

"They give them some comfort."

Tracy Livingstone, director of nursing at Nightingale House said: "The patients love to see Taff and Meg.

"Not only do the dogs provide valuable distraction for our patients and families from the challenge of living with a life-limiting illness but it can be great fun and therapeutic to be able to share company and companionship without questions or the need to talk.

"We would like to give a special 'thank you' to Audrey, we appreciate all of her hard work."

Anybody who would like to receive a visit from Meg and Taff can contact Audrey on 01978 855 607.