A CHARITY that trains dogs to transform the lives of deaf people has received a boost from VetPartners.
Hearing Dogs for Deaf People has been selected as VetPartners’ chosen charity for 2019.
VetPartners’ UK-wide practices and the group’s Central Support team in York are planning to organise fundraising events to raise as much money as possible for the charity over the next 12 months.
Hearing Dogs for Deaf People trains dogs to alert deaf people to important and life-saving sounds, such as fire alarms, intruder alarms, oven timers and baby monitors. The charity’s dogs also provide constant emotional support and companionship, which is important as deaf people can often struggle with feelings of isolation and loneliness.
The charity currently has around 500 dogs in training and has created nearly 2,500 working hearing dog partnerships, for both children and adults, across the UK.
VetPartners’ fundraising efforts will be overseen by Business Development Director Caroline Queen.
Caroline said: “Hearing Dogs for Deaf People is a very deserving charity that changes people’s lives for the better. I know our practices and Central Support team will get behind the fundraising, whether they host cake sales or take part in sponsored walks.
“Everyone is encouraged to get involved, from work experience students to senior vets and the effect of this team building is fantastic, especially on team morale and wellbeing.”
Hearing Dogs for Deaf People was part of a four-charity shortlist that also included the PDSA, Cats Protection and Riding for the Disabled Association, from which teams were invited to select the chosen charity. VetPartners plans to support several charities in 2019.
Hearing Dogs’ fundraising relationships manager Jo Wengler said: “We are delighted to have been chosen as VetPartners’ charity of the year. Their support will go a long way in helping us to train more dogs that change the lives of deaf people.
“Our highly trained dogs not only alert deaf people to life-saving sounds, such as the fire or smoke alarm, but they also provide lots of emotional support and companionship. This can be invaluable to deaf people, who can often struggle with feelings of loneliness and isolation.
“The cost to train and support each hearing dog throughout their lifetime is £40,000 and as we receive no government funding, we do rely on donations. The support of VetPartners will directly help us to train more life-changing hearing dogs.”
Pictured here, left to right, are VetPartners business development director Caroline Queen with Wendy Roberts and Emma Golding, from Hearing Dogs for Deaf People, with Bella.
For media enquiries, please contact Amanda Little, VetPartners Senior PR and Communications Manager, on 07970 198 492 or email amanda.little@vetpartners.co.uk