By Samantha Novick

WHEN Alison, a teenager from Aberdeenshire, seemed to be losing her battle with anorexia and spending ever longer periods of time in hospital, her grandfather had an inspired idea. He knew it would be good if his granddaughter could be outdoors, but was aware she wouldn't be comfortable around people. So he took her to the local animal sanctuary.

Alison was painfully thin and needed a feeding tube to support her. On her first visit to Willows Animal Sanctuary in Fraserburgh, she could only manage to pet the animals – which included rescued dogs, cats and horses – for ten minutes. But being there took her mind off her illness, and her grandfather brought her back every week.

One day, arriving on her own, she walked straight up to Flora, a bay horse, and began stroking her neck. "I saw what was happening and my heart and my stomach switched places," said Jenny Gray, the sanctuary manager. "Flora had been badly neglected before we rescued her and had a tendency to bite and kick humans. I was sure she would attack Alison. To my amazement, though, Flora stood there quietly and nuzzled her as if she knew the girl was fragile. It made me realise that animals can empathise with vulnerable people and help them in a way that no drug or therapist can."