Our four-legged friend
Meet Bob the UK's first registered therapy dog dedicated to supporting the homeless
Every team needs a heart — and ours has four paws. Bob is Cornerstone's beloved support dog, bringing comfort, calm and a wagging welcome to everyone who walks through our doors.
Why Bob matters
A friend to everyone
For someone walking into a hub for the first time — anxious, exhausted, unsure — a friendly dog can change everything. Bob breaks the ice, lowers the walls, and reminds people they're welcome here. He's not just our mascot; he's part of the support.
- A calm, comforting welcome
- Helps people feel safe and at ease
- Loved by staff, volunteers and visitors alike
Bob in the news
Bob on BBC News
The BBC joined Bob and our outreach team on a night-time street sweep in Hartlepool, to see how a wagging tail opens a conversation that a clipboard never could.
A club card of his own
The first dog to join a working men’s club
Long before he was a therapy dog, Bob was a regular at Hunwick Working Men’s Club — getting used to noise, crowds and being made a fuss of. When memberships came up for renewal, the committee pointed out that one regular didn’t have one. Bob was handed a lifetime membership card, believed to be the first dog in the country to be given one.
Those club nights were the making of him. Learning to stay calm and steady in a busy room is exactly what lets him work with people on the street today.
- The first dog ever given a C.I.U. lifetime membership
- A regular at Hunwick Working Men’s Club since he was a pup
- Club nights are how he learned to be calm in a crowd
Bob about town
Follow along
Keep up with Bob
Bob is out most days — at the hub, on the outreach round, or asleep somewhere he isn't supposed to be. Follow along for photos, updates and the occasional nap.
Bob came and sat with me when I had nothing left. Daft as it sounds, that dog helped me keep going.