A dog owner has started bringing his German shepherd to work in his role as a railway safeguarding lead.

Stephen O’Callaghan, from Sheffield, has been taking six-year-old Nya on the Transpennine Express (TPE) route network since Pets As Therapy certified her as a therapy animal last year.

“There are so many benefits she brings – she can increase people’s mood, help with feelings of isolation, and decrease feelings of stress,” he said.

“She’s helped me out in the past, and I just wanted to roll that out to help as many people as possible.”

Mr O’Callaghan, who is also the crime prevention lead for the operator, spent three months registering Nya with Pets As Therapy (PAT).

She is now a “key part of the customer service pack” according to TPE.

Mr O’Callaghan said he was “proud” TPE had become the first train operator with its own therapy dog, and hoped other rail companies would do the same.

“We know the rail environment can be stressful for some people, particularly those who are vulnerable,” he added.

“One woman said she was having a really difficult day and was suffering quite badly with anxiety.

“She said [Nya] made a real difference, broke that negative chain of thoughts and improved her mood. She was besotted with her.”

PAT’s animals help improve the health and wellbeing of thousands of people in communities across the UK, the charity said.

Volunteers take their certified animals to settings like care homes, hospices and prisons, in the same way Mr O’Callaghan brings Nya to work.

“Nya loves it – she absolutely loves being fussed, so she’s in her element,” he added.

“And it’s always a benefit that some owners have dog biscuits on them.”

He described it as a “heart-warming initiative” which “genuinely puts smiles on people’s faces”.