Today, August 26, is International Dog Day, an annual event to honour all dogs, no matter what size, shape, breed, or age.
In the UK alone, they are a particularly popular choice as a pet, whether they are a rescue or bought from a breeder. The reasons people have for choosing them include companionship, how they can boost mental health and wellbeing and how going for walks can help the owner become more active and physically healthier.
Figures from the Peoples’ Dispensary for Sick Animals (PDSA) show there are 10.6 million dogs in the UK with 28% of adults owning one and nearly a quarter of us have more than one in the household.
This includes a number of the Sheldon Bosley Knight staff for whom their pet pooches are an important part of the family.
But as with any pet, dogs are a commitment and require plenty of interaction. So what can you do if you’d like an animal companion but are not sure if you can devote the required attention to it?
Our lettings operations manager, Tara Doughty has wanted to have a dog for a long time but she and her partner Dave lead such busy lives she wasn’t sure how they could make it work.
However, a chance meeting in a coffee shop with a lady and her fostered guide dog made them realise there was a way.
Tara said: “We were having a coffee and got chatting to a lady next to us who had a lovely guide dog puppy. She explained she was fostering it as it was being trained and it seemed to be the perfect solution.
“The process to become a guide dog foster parent is rigorous and thorough as they want the right calibre of people to look after and help train the puppies.
“We’ve had numerous interviews, had to complete forms and had background checks done and come October, we will have a day of training with a puppy. It’s all very exciting and we are looking forward to it.”
Once accepted, Tara and Dave will look after and train the puppy at the weekends and overnight but during the day one of them will drop it off at school so it can start it’s guide dog training.
Tara said: “It’s a great set up because we drop the dog off on our way to work and collect it again on our way home. At weekends we have to make sure it can be confident in social situations so we are encouraged to take it to cafes, the shops and out and about although we have to make sure it has its guide dog harness on and stays next to us.
“We are both looking forward to being foster parents to the puppy which we will have for about six months. Once it’s been trained it will go to its forever home and be a guide dog for someone who needs it.
“For us it’s a win win as we are able to have a dog live with us and also give something back to our community and help someone who really needs it. I think it’s going to be incredibly rewarding.”
If you would like to find out more about fostering opportunities with the Guide Dogs Association please visit www.guidedogs.org.uk and follow the links.
And check out all Sheldon Bosley Knight’s top dogs – which is your favourite?!
