Volunteer of the Month - June 2025 - Julie Shute

It’s unusual for a Hearing Dogs volunteer to be best known for their cat, however that’s turned into the case with Julie Shute!

Recently, she graciously welcomed our Communications team into her home, in Buckinghamshire, to film some content with her family’s Siamese cat, Frank.

The purpose was to demonstrate some of the behind-the-scenes, detailed training that is part of a hearing dog’s life before being placed with a deaf recipient. Both Frank and Julie rose to the challenge! Nellie Hughes, Social Media Officer, explains how they were both naturals in front of the camera:

“Julie has thrown herself into helping us raise awareness of what it’s like to be a volunteer at Hearing Dogs. She has been a dream to work with and opened her heart and home for us to film her story, alongside her beautiful cat Frank, who is used for “cat testing” dogs-in-training who wouldn’t otherwise have the opportunity of feline contact in a controlled environment.

Nothing is too big of an ask with Julie, who always has a smile for everyone and is a star both on screen and off. I am proud of the video piece we’ve produced together, and I really can’t thank her enough for all the help she’s given. Her willingness to help the Charity shows how committed she is, which is wonderful.”

Frank’s social media content has certainly been a huge hit with our predominantly dog-loving online audience! For the Volunteering Team it’s also great to be able to show potential new volunteers that owning a cat isn’t prohibitive to becoming a Volunteer Dog Trainer – as long as the cat’s as happy and confident as Frank of course.

Julie’s outgoing nature and sociability also lend her to being a highly accomplished Volunteer Dog Trainer. She interacts beautifully with the dogs she trains, provides fabulous learning opportunities, is patient, and gives them unconditional love, guidance and care. You can see that her sunny style is reflected in her trainees who are some of the most friendly, sweet, confident and well-trained pups on the block!

Rachel Broadley, Dog Training Instructor, says: “Julie is such a dedicated volunteer and a joy to work with! She always turns up to puppy classes with a smile and lots of enthusiasm. She is very accommodating and throws herself into any task you give her.

She is currently training her second puppy, a golden Cockapoo named Kasper. Before that, she had a handsome black Cockapoo named Gizmo, who is now fully qualified and out working with his forever partner.”

“Julie is not only a fabulous Volunteer Dog Trainer” says High Wycombe Area Training Manager, Sarah Allom, “but also a great support for all the volunteers she in her local vicinity and network. She is positive, strong and very professional. I am glad and proud to have her in our team.”

Hearing Dogs is truly blessed to have the support of volunteers like Julie, as well as the goodwill of her husband and adult daughters, who have all got used to both pups and film crews invading their home!

The Shutes are a wonderful family whose charitable involvement has also extended to the Teenage Cancer Trust and Wycombe Homeless Night Shelter.

Upon applying to be a volunteer, back in 2019, Julie candidly explained that she knew “firsthand the difference charities make to the quality of people’s lives” and that she “wanted to continue to help be a part of this.” Some six years later, Hearing Dogs would like to publicly say mission accomplished Julie! You’re an absolute star.