Marc the Vet to host event to turn unwanted pets into hero hounds
Vet, broadcaster, and campaigner Marc Abraham, one of the driving forces behind Lucy’s Law, is hosting an online event for national assistance dog charity Support Dogs. The aim is to help the charity find potential heroes among unwanted dogs.
Support Dogs trains life-saving assistance dogs for children and adults affected by autism, epilepsy and disability. One in four of the dogs the charity trains come from rescue centres or as unwanted pets, and Support Dogs is encouraging rescue centres and pet owners to consider the charity when looking for new homes for animals with the potential to become professional service dogs.
Marc says, “I think what Support Dogs does – taking animals from rescue centres or unwanted pets and turning them into vital, life changing assistance dogs – is absolutely brilliant, both for the dogs and for the people whose lives they transform.
“The seminar is an opportunity for anyone, including those involved with rescue centres or people who may have a young dog they can no longer look after to find out how Support Dogs work and train their animals, and the qualities required for an unwanted dog to become a hero hound.”
The Rescue dog to support dog zoom seminar takes place at 7pm on Thursday February 25. It is free to attend and tickets can be booked here. Marc will be joined by TV presenter Gail Porter in a bid to “educate rescue centres and the public on this unique aspect of the work of the charity” and boost the number of Support Dogs’ potentially life-changing heroes. There will also be the chance to meet to some of the Support Dogs’ clients who have gone through the process.
Says Rita Howson, chief executive of Support Dogs, “As a charity, we do not shy away from dogs that may be classed as difficult and therefore left without a home, as we know from experience that given the correct training, a good home and care these dogs can become fantastic assistance dogs.”
Potential candidates need to be “confident and adaptable, dog-friendly, people-orientated with no major fears or phobias”. They should also be between the ages of 10 months and two years old.
Images by Support Dogs
