Bramble's uncanny ability to spread joy led me to use her in therapy © Gordon Milne

Seeing Bramble's incredible intuition with humans made me wonder how she would react to people with very severe mental illness. Research has frequently shown that caring for a pet is a great aid to good mental health and speeds recovery from illness or surgery. Many hospitals, including those specialising in mental illness, often allow animal visits; there is even a charity which provides animal visits for patients who do not have a pet. With this in mind, I decided to take Bramble to the drop-in centre I was working in at the time in Banff and she was an instant hit. Once more she proved her skill for bringing joy to the joyless and love to the loveless. Afterwards I was constantly being asked when Bramble would be coming back. I took her back several times after that and she even made an appearance at a fund-raising fête as the centre's mascot. Following on from her success in Banff, I began taking Bramble regularly to another drop-in centre in Ellon where, again she proved an instant success. One of the regulars there had a Staffordshire Bull Terrier and the two of them became playmates during her visits, much to the amusement of the clientelle. Once again, I could see changes in people's postures, expressions and gate which indicated a considerable lifting of their mood.

Bramble clearly had a unique ability to not only understand people but to make them understand her too. She could reassure the frightened just by the way she looked at them. I tested Bramble's ability to make herself understood once when she came to me and pulled on my leg. One look in her eyes and I knew she was trying to tell me she was hungry but I pretended not to know and asked her what the matter was. She gave me a quizzical look, as if to say "are you serious?", then she walked to the door and looked back at me. I got up and followed her to the kitchen, where she stood by the door of the cupboard where her food was kept, looked at me and looked at the door. Once more I played dumb and said "What is it? What do you want?". Bramble looked at me with an even more incredulous glare, shook her head (honest, she really did!) opened the door, dragged out the plastic tub with her food in, placed it at my feet, put her two front paws on top of it and looked up at me with an expression that clearly said "You're either thick or you're taking the p*ss, now feed me you idiot!".

In my next post I began working as an outreach worker for a residential hostel in Aberdeen for adults with severe mental health problems. My role being to support people in their transition from residential supported accommodation to independent living in their own homes. Bramble visited the hostel a few times. On her first visit one resident, whom Staff found very hard to reach, formed an instant bond with her. He sat for an hour watching television with Bramble calmly sitting in his lap being stroked. Anyone who knows ferrets knows that they are extremely curious and have an urgent need to explore any new surroundings, so the fact that Bramble chose instead to spend time with a young man who desperately needed physical affection speaks volumes of her commitment to making people happy. Around Christmas 2003, a new client was added to my outreach list. This poor chap had spina bifida and possible epilepsy. His Social Worker was a burned out waste of space who had done nothing to provide the care needed. The gentleman needed regular help with basic tasks like bathing and cooking but this was not being provided. After several complaints over six months, we finally got his Social Worker replaced and the client was immediately referred for a place at a residential care home for the disabled, as he clearly needed 24 hour support. He was, however, very reluctant to leave his home and his severe depression, brought on by months of poor care, made him unwilling and unable to listen to reason. I thought it might be a good idea to introduce him to Bramble and her newly adopted son Bob.

Bramble drinking tea outside the Inversnecky Café © Howard M. Kennedy

Although both ferrets were cheerful and fascinating to the man, Bramble recognised immediately that this was work, not play, and avoided the urge to explore his home. Instead she spent almost two hours being stroked, cuddled, kissed and playing with his long shaggy beard. The effect of this affection was instantaneous and remarkable. I saw a withered, depressed, bitter old man turn into a giggling child before my eyes! The effort Bramble put in to help this man and the effects of her work were truly amazing. I have never seen such a huge instant change in somebody with a severe depression. When I called round a week later, the man cheerfully asked after Bramble and told me he had told his Social Worker he would like to accept the offer of supported accommodation. He also asked if it would be possible for me to continue my visits once he moved and I agreed.

In February 2005 I took Bramble along to visit him in his new home and he was beaming from ear to ear. He put Bramble in his lap and insisted I wheel him round all the residents and staff to show her off.