Massive thank you from me and Demi
I’M just writing to say a massive ‘thank you’ to the generous people of the Hinckley area!
We had a can collection at Tesco in Hinckley on Sunday 23 February 2020 and raised an impressive £85.48 for ‘Dogs for Good’! Thank you to all who donated, to the Store for allowing us to collect and our lovely band of friendly volunteers! Puppy currently being socialised ‘Amy’ loved meeting you all, as did my current Assistance Dog, ‘Demi’!
Demi is my third Assistance Dog from Dogs for Good (formerly Dogs for the Disabled). We’ve been together for two years, and she’s four-years-old. She’s totally different to her two predecessors – she’s extremely intelligent (sometimes too intelligent), and is ridiculously stubborn (as am I)! Dogs for Good certainly chose a good match! She helps me by retrieving dropped items, emptying the washing machine, turning on lights, helping me to undress, fetching the ‘phone, bringing the milk in, opening doors, pressing lift buttons – her list of tasks is endless! Her favourite task is pushing the button to operate the door to get in to Cineworld (other cinemas are available)! Demi enables me to live independently – she is my sole carer (better than a human carer, in my opinion)! Without Demi, I’d probably lie in bed all day and wallow in self-pity. Having Demi means that I HAVE to get up to feed, exercise, groom and play with her. If you’d like to find out more about the Charity, visit www.dogsforgood.org. If you’re visiting Crufts at the NEC this year (5-8 March), you can visit the Charity’s Stand in Hall 3/3A, Stand 54 – near the Good Citizen Ring.
I’m the coordinator and treasurer for the Leicestershire Dogs for Good Supporter Group. We’re a very small group, and are in desperate need of more volunteers. We mainly attend can collections and carnivals. Some of our Group are trained as registered speakers for the Charity and visit WIs, Brownies, schools, Rotary Clubs, etc. to talk about this life-transforming Charity. If you would like to know more about joining our Group, please email wheeliewitty@ icloud.com. Last year, we raised £1,077.41 for the Charity. Since we formed in 2012, we’ve raised almost £22,000!
July this year marks 20 years since I was matched with my first Assistance Dog. Each dog has enabled me to do things I wouldn’t have dreamed of. My first dog (a little Golden Retriever called ‘Bella’) was with my through my degree. My second dog (a clown of a yellow Labrador called ‘Frodo’) and I had MANY adventures together – the London 2012 Paralympics, Crufts, Discover Dogs and gigs. Demi and I have been on quite a few adventures already – we’ve done Crufts and Discover Dogs, been to a couple of West End shows (‘Les Misérables’ and ‘Hamilton’), seen Take That at the O2 (both at West End shows and concerts, a member of staff looks after your dog in an office whilst you are entertained) and A LOT of hospital appointments in London (although I’m not sure that can be classed as an ‘adventure’)! Without my Assistance Dog by my side, I doubt I would’ve achieved a fraction of this – I’m unbelievably lucky! This year, I’d like to raise more money for Dogs for Good to mark my 20th anniversary of having one of these amazing dogs and to enable more dogs to be partnered with disabled people. If you’re able to help out – even just for an hour every now-and-then – please contact me.
Lizzie and Demi Owen