Hearing dogs couple win national award
ADOG loving couple from Stockport have won a national award for their commitment to training hearing dogs.
Brenda and Tony Martin have been volunteer ‘Puppy Socialisers’ for Hearing Dogs ever since the charity launched a training area in Cheshire last spring.
Now the charity has awarded them the title of ‘volunteers of the month’ to say thank you to the couple for their dedication, commitment and generosity
Volunteer puppy socialisers play a vital part in a puppy’s journey to becoming a life-changing hearing dog, as they look after a puppy in their own homes from just eight weeks old up until the young dogs are around a year.
Their role involves getting the puppies used to being in public places.
Since Spring last year, Brenda and Tony have proved that patience and dedication can make a real difference to the upbringing of a hearing dog puppy, with the training of Peppa – a somewhat ‘independent’ cocker spaniel.
Michelle Taylor, a puppy training instructor for Hearing Dogs, presented the couple with their award.
She said: “I am really grateful to Brenda and Tony not only for the hard work they have put in with Peppa, but also for the support they have given us in establishing the Cheshire puppy socialising area.
“Thanks to their commitment, Peppa has now successfully moved on to advanced training and lucky pup Jade is now in their care.
“I cannot thank them enough; they’ve experienced the real rollercoaster of puppy socialising and come up smiling and laughing – they’re just great and so deserving of this award.”
Brenda said: “Tony and I feel very honoured to be awarded the volunteers of the month.
“This has been such an enjoyable time since volunteering and helping to train Peppa and now Jade.
“We have also met deaf people when out with the puppies, who have told us how much they appreciate the work everyone does to train these marvellous dogs
“I feel very lucky to be able to help and also having such adorable puppies to help to train for their important roles and at the moment enjoying my new cocker spaniel Jade.”
To find out more see hearingdogs.org.uk/volunteering.