Belinda (Bin) Johnston, Founder and Chief Executive of Our Special Friends saw the need for a charity which would promote and enhance the bond between people and their animals, providing support to enable these relationships to continue through difficult times, whilst empowering and supporting difficult decisions and loss. Our Special Friends was born!

Ten years on, the charity is providing animal companionship services to approximately 500 clients a year, assessing their needs and matching them to appropriate support from over 100 volunteers and affiliate organisations. Our Special Friends believes firmly that people need pets and pets need people because they both benefit from being together but they need to be a good match and, when necessary, to be supported by others to maintain the relationship.

The charity is totally dependent on the funds it can raise to maintain the essential services it provides in the community. These services include:

- dog walking for clients can no longer walk their own dog

- volunteer and friendly dog visiting for people who miss the company of a dog but can no longer have one of their own

- accompanied dog walking for people who would be unable to go out on their own

- fostering to reunite for animals who have to be separated from their owners for a limited amount of time

- adoption for animals that need to find a new home

- veterinary services for animals who have suffered neglect or need critical veterinary care

- support for those going through bereavement or facing a difficult decision at the end of their pets life