We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you’ve consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. More info

She said: “My eldest son Olly has Down’s syndrome and has benefited so much from having canine companionship. Teddy is really our whole family’s ‘therapy dog’.

“Tom, my youngest son, has dyslexia and has found so much comfort reading to Teddy. He won’t read to us, but he will read to Teddy.

“I can’t imagine our lives without our dogs now.”

Golden retriever Ruby who provides love and support to a young girl with cerebral palsy by easing her anxiety and stress is up for the award.

And springer spaniel fire investigation dog Simba, who brings justice to victims of arson attacks. has also been named as a finalist.

Bill Lambert, Crufts spokesman, said: “There were hundreds of amazing nominees, with this year’s five finalists each recognised for their extraordinary feats and the difference they make.”

The winner of the award will receive £5,000 from The Kennel Club Charitable Trust for the dog charity of their choice, with the other finalists receiving a £1,000 donation to their chosen canine charity.

In 2020, Golden retriever Leo, who leads a team of therapy dogs that visit the Southampton Children’s Hospital to provide animal assisted intervention, won the prestigious award.

Leo and friends have been visiting the hospital up to five times a week for nearly a decade.

The public can vote for their newest hero pooch until midday on March 13 by visiting crufts.org.uk/herodogawards2022.

—————–

Steph Spyro

THE four-legged finalists for this year’s Kennel Club Hero Dog Award have gone above and beyond to serve their communities and help their owners.

Golden retriever guide dog Milo is shortlisted for supporting Scott Bailey who started losing his sight in 2019.

Having Milo by his side has brought Scott confidence and independence but Scott’s life is often in Milo’s paws.

Scott, from Crewe, Cheshire, said: “I was scared and unable to leave the house alone. I went from working outdoors as a dairy farmer, to sitting within four walls, day in, day out.”

Rescue dog Chewie helped save his owner Ray Whiteley, who has multiple sclerosis, by “frantically barking” when Ray went into cardiac arrest.

In 2018, Ray’s wife Loretta was in their garden in Leyland, Lancashire, when she heard Chewie barking.

She went inside to find Ray in respiratory arrest, and Chewie jumping on his chest.

One of the tricks Loretta and Ray taught Chewie was to do CPR on their other rescue dogs. 

The couple said that without their pup, Ray would have died.

Their rescue dog was found half buried in a bag with his paws and mouth taped up alongside his littermates at 12 weeks old.

Hero dogs Sonar, Bob, Walker and Newfoundlands provide support for staff from front-line emergency services and military veterans.

Pete Lewin, from Leicester, runs a non-profit organisation working with his Newfoundland pups to improve people’s mental health through swimming.

Pete said: “These dogs really are life-savers.”

Meanwhile golden retriever Ruby takes care of Olivia Cunliffe, 16, who has cerebral palsy.

The teenager, from Barnsley, Yorkshire, suffers from pain, anxiety and stress which has been eased thanks to the pup.

Simba the Springer Spaniel is a hero for assisting his handler Anton Keach in the London Fire Brigade.

The four-year-old pooch can detect a variety of ignitable substances and can help determine whether a fire has been started deliberately.

Simba last year helped to bring murderers to justice after finding that accelerants had been used in a fire.

Anton said: “Simba is a hero to us and an integral part of the London Fire Brigade team,” said Anton.”

What is happening where you live? Find out by adding your postcode or visit InYourArea

—————–

COMMENT BY SALLY PHILLIPS

Everyone told me getting a dog was a terrible idea. Life at home bringing up my three sons can be a bit chaotic – so having Teddy and Lottie (two Slovakian rescue dogs), and Matilda (a Miniature Bull Terrier) and Billy A Splodge (a Jack Russell), does seem a bit crazy.

But our dogs are the best things to happen to our family. They make the house calmer, and all of us so much happier. 

Teddy is best at listening to dyslexic readers, Lottie looks after the other dogs, Matilda is number one at windscreen wiper impressions with her tail and dismembering dog toys, and Billy A Splodge (the A stands for Ace!) is best at jumping and tugging!

My eldest son, Olly, has Down’s Syndrome and has benefited so much from having canine companionship. There’s a lot of anecdotal evidence that children with Down’s syndrome and autism are helped by having a four-legged family member, with social interaction and also to feel calm. Olly has the most beautiful relationship with our dogs. He’ll just hold Teddy and stroke him for hours.

Teddy is really our whole family’s ‘therapy dog’. Tom, my youngest son, has dyslexia and has found so much comfort reading to Teddy. He won’t read to us, but he will read to Teddy. There’s no judgement, just unconditional love.

Teddy, Lottie, Matilda and Billy A Splodge are part of the family and they’ve transformed our lives – much like The Kennel Club’s Hero Dog Award finalists who we’re celebrating for their extraordinary feats and difference they make.

All dogs are heroes to their owners; they are very special and loyal animals to have around. I can’t imagine our lives without our dogs now – just four more examples of everyday canine heroes, who quietly go about changing our lives, without even knowing it.

Please watch all of the finalists’ stories and vote for your favourite on the Crufts website. Each showcases a different element of the amazing things dogs do for us and I can’t wait to celebrate their infinite companionship by crowning The Kennel Club’s Hero Dog 2022 at Crufts on 13 March.

• Sally Phillips, actress and The Kennel Club ambassador

Source: Read Full Article