He brings happiness to the elderly, the disabled and the lonely, and has been described by a nurse as better than any medicine she could prescribe.

Meet three-year-old golden retriever Murphy, who lives with his owner Ruth Oliver in Corfe Mullen, the latest addition to Bournemouth-based charity, Caring Canines.

The therapeutic benefits of animals have been well extolled over the years, but people living in institutions often miss out on the joys of having a pet.

It was this idea which prompted Sue Dennett and Julie Lankshear to set up Caring Canines, which visits care homes, hospitals, hospices, sheltered housing and special needs schools.

When Ruth saw how much comfort Murphy brought to her late father who died shortly after Christmas, she decided to look into enrolling him as a therapy dog.

“My dad was seriously ill in Poole Hospital, but staff agreed that I could take Murphy to visit him.

“Murphy immediately spotted my dad’s bed on the ward and started wagging his tail and put his paws on the bed,” Ruth explains.

“My dad was wearing an oxygen mask, but his whole face lit up and he managed to sit up and stroke Murphy. We then went round to all the other people in the ward as they all wanted to see him. Even the nurses made a fuss of him too.”

Ruth’s dad died five days later. She says he had a special bond with Murphy.

“My dad didn’t used to like dogs at all, but after six months Murphy won him over and he adored him.

“Even though he had a bad back, he would get down on the floor to cuddle him.

“Murphy was born on Valentine’s Day and he’s certainly brought a lot of love to my life. He also brought my dad and I much closer in the last few years too.”

Ruth had to submit two written references which was followed by an assessment in a public place before her first assignment – an old people’s home in Broadstone.

“It’s something positive to come out of a sad situation following the loss of my dad.

“My dad was involved with the church and used to regularly visit the elderly in residential homes.

“He would be absolutely thrilled to know that Murphy is following in his footsteps.”

You can meet Ruth and Murphy and other members of the Caring Canines team on Monday at the Caring Canines Fun Dog Show at Pelham park, Kinson.