Buster and I would like to tell everybody about the fantastic work that Hounds for Heroes do.
We were watching a television programme at the weekend about The Secret Life of Dogs and one of the dogs featured was Endal, an Assistance dog who helped an injured serviceman get his life back together and carry out every day tasks.
Sadly, Endal is no longer with us but EJ has taken his place and you will see EJ featured with his owner on the Hounds for Heroes website, leaflets and posters.
Instantly, we asked our mum to pick up the laptop and find out more…
There are currently 900,000 ex-service people in Britain with disabilities. A high proportion of these would benefit from having an assistance dog,
but only a small handful do.
The Hounds for Heroes charity is set to change this. Ex-service people do not want to be seen with a “badge of disability”; they are uncomfortable with the concept having been independent, fit, mentally able for their entire lives so far.
Currently assistance dogs are portrayed as assisting with domestic chores however, these sorts of people are outward bound types, they want assistance to carry on as they did before.
Hounds for Heroes want to provide specially trained assistance dogs to injured and disabled men and women of both the UK Armed Forces and Civilian Emergency Services.
Through this provision they hope to gives these men and women an enhanced quality of life in line
with their expectations. They will also be able to provide help and practical support to help them achieve this.
Hounds for Heroes is about enablement, independence and an enhanced quality of life for so many injured personnel. They are here to make a difference”.
Instead of training dogs to do 100 different things, each dog will be specifically trained to deal with each individual clients need. It is no good having a dog that can load a washing machine when it belongs to a young man who needs to be able to order a drink at the bar and pay for it.
The dogs’ jacket is decorated with the clients service insignia and any medals they have achieved are embroidered onto the jacket.
How else Hounds for Heroes dogs help?
Not only will dogs be able to assist clients with the physical aspect of their injuries they will also be able to help the clients and their families cope with mental trauma and stresses that come from being injured during service.
Of the 95 married service people injured during the Gulf War, only 10% of the marriages survived. You can tell a dog anything, and we will never judge you and always love you.
Hounds for Heroes dogs will not only benefit the client but also their immediate and distant family members as well as provide a focus point for the general public enabling conversation to flow.
Puppies on Parade
The Puppies on Parade Appeal raises money to pay for 5 puppies to be trained, and looked after for 5 years. This appeal updates every time they make £100,000 to pay for a squadron of puppies.
There are currently 2 squadrons of puppies in training and the first fully trained dogs were due to be matched with their disabled owners at Christmas 2012.
Help Hounds for Heroes
- If you wish to help then maybe you could do a fund raising event or get your company to adopt Hounds for Heroes as their chosen charity.
- You may wish to volunteer locally to give talks, coordinate events etc.
- Print off their downloadable leaflets and posters and put them in your offices, clubs, pubs and shops to help spread the word.
- Purchase items from their range of merchandise including fridge magnets, car sticker and T shirts.
Buster and I will certainly be following our Hounds for Heroes friends and will keep you updated with news and events.
To find out more, volunteer your services or help raise money visit the Hounds for Heroes website.
Images used on this website are copyright of the Hounds for Heroes Charity.