Strictly Come Dancing Champion Camilla Sacre-Dallerup and her husband Kevin – both currently starring in the hit musical Calendar Girls – are the latest in a growing number of celebrities to pledge their support to Hearing Dogs for Deaf People’s new Puppy Sponsorship Scheme.
The successful dog-loving couple, who met while filming the Underdogs show in which celebrities were paired with rescue dogs in a dog training competition, are long-term supporters of Hearing Dogs for Deaf People and recently took time out of their busy Calendar Girls touring schedule for a photoshoot promoting the new scheme.
Cocker Spaniel puppy Ayla, the latest pup that members of the public can sponsor through the Puppy Sponsorship Scheme, and hearing dog demonstration team member chocolate Labrador Robyn, joined Camilla and Kevin for the photoshoot in which they modelled a soon to be available range of Puppy Sponsorship t-shirts.
The Puppy Sponsorship Scheme was launched by Ben Fogle in March this year to meet the ever-increasing demand for more hearing dogs from people with hearing loss all over the UK. The new scheme will help to secure essential and predictable on-going funding for the increase of hearing dogs being trained and placed with recipients each year. Around 200 puppies a year will be introduced into the Charity’s training scheme from several sources including Hearing Dogs’ own expanding breeding scheme as well as donations from breeders and members of the public.
The Charity is focusing attention on increasing the number and quality of puppies, as well refining the types of breeds, introduced into its training programme year on year. This means that each year more puppies and young dogs than in previous years will complete their initial puppy socialisation and advanced soundwork training, and be successfully matched to a deaf person – helping the Charity to reduce waiting times for new applicants and existing recipients requiring a replacement dog.
Says Camilla: “Kevin and I have both been so moved by the amazing work that hearing dogs do to help people with hearing loss. The enormous difference they make to the lives of their recipients is extraordinary. The Charity’s new Puppy Sponsorship Scheme is a great way for people to contribute towards the training and placement of these wonderful and truly life-changing dogs.”
Sponsors will be able to follow hearing dog puppy Ayla – and other pups like her – on their inspirational journey to become hearing dogs from initial puppy socialisation training (introduction to basic obedience and different types of sights, smells and environments) through to advanced soundwork training at one of the Charity’s Training Centres and finally placement with their deaf recipient.
Puppy Sponsorship is available at £3, £5 or £10 a month through direct debit. Sponsors receive a welcome pack as well as regular updates on the progress of their puppy throughout its journey to become a life-changing hearing dog for a deaf person.
To support Ayla, and others pups just like her, as part of Hearing Dogs’ Puppy Sponsorship Scheme simply call 01844 348100 (voice and minicom), email puppysponsorship@hearingdogs.org.uk or visit http://www.hearingdogs.org.uk/puppysponsorship.
