Charity Reg. No. 1088281

Special thanks go to John Ellis from South Yorkshire Police for his excellent presentation on the training of police dogs, Sounds Commercial for providing the presentation & stage equipment and all our dogs who took part in the highly entertaining film about just what they get up to when our training staff are not around!.

Special awards also went to Foster Carer of the Year: Michelle Walker, Volunteer of the Year: Katie Patmore, Fundraiser of the Year: Kathie Ward and our new John Fisher Award in recognition of outstanding service to the charity went to former the Chairman of Support Dogs: Stephen Harfield.
 

If you would like to take part in this unique event please email Jenny on jennymarkham24@googlemail.com to receive a sponsor form and registration. Alternatively if you cannot take part yourslef, you can sponsor Jenny who will be leading the walk with collection buckets at www.justgiving.com/Jennifer-Markham .

NB Participants will need to bring their own rope or dressing gown belts to tie there feet together!! Not everyone has to do it 3 legged if they can't, it is optional. Everybody taking part will have to bring their sponsor money on the day.
 

http://www.justgiving.com/jasonclarkdartschallenge
 

Support Dog in training Rosie recently made a long trip up to North Cumbria to meet up with her sponsors from the village of Blennerhasset and surrounding area.

After a a short visit to Kendal and a couple of walks along beaches, Rosie made her way to the Grey Goat pub in Baggrow where landlords Maura & Glenn had laid on a huge party for their regulars and friends who have been busy fundraising for the last few years and have raised a staggering £10,000 to fund the training of a Seizure Alert Dog.

Local resident Elaine Fisher led the fundraising efforts after her daughter Kelly died as a result of a seizure six years ago and Kelly's family and friends were on hand to meet Rosie who lapped up all the fuss and attention.

Tombola's, BBQ's and paddling pools were the order of the day as everyone basked in glorious sunshine and celebrated their achievement.

"It's such an incredible effort by such a small village," commented Angela Gregory, Support Dogs Fundraising Officer. "When you realise that there are only around 400 people that live in Blennerhasset itself, it puts into perspective just how hard everyone has worked."

Rosie is due to be matched with her potential owner in August and, if all goes well, will eventually qualify in 2010 after which her new friends are hoping she will make a return visit for another celebration.

Check out Rosie's visit in our new photo gallery by clicking here.
 

Support Dog owner Laura Crawford has been recognised in this year's Queens Birthday Honours List!

The title of Member of the Order for the British Empire (MBE) has been given to Laura from Rhos on Sea for her voluntary work with disabled people in Wales.

The Queens Birthday Honours List recognises outstanding achievement and service across the UK. More than 70 per cent of awards have gone to ordinary people, local heroes, who have made a difference to life in their communities.

Laura has dedicated her life to helping other people and currently represents the Equipment & Adaptation Monitoring Group, a charity based in North Wales which helps disabled people of all ages.

Laura will be collecting her award at Buckingham Palace on 15th July and Kizzy her Support Dog will be attending alongside her.

"Everyone at Support Dogs was delighted to hear of Laura's award which is thoroughly deserved," commented Rita Howson, Director of Operations. "And it's really exciting to know one of our dogs will be part of such a prestigious awards ceremony."
 

Support Dog Ernie and his friends made a big splash when they took part in a recent Canine Swimathon event organised by his owner Kate Arnett.

More than £2,000 has been raised so far with more money coming in everyday as 35 dogs and their owners took part in the canine challenge at Halfkey Kennels & Hydrotherapy Centre in Malvern.

Visitors to the event were also entertained by the Malvern Hills and District Brass band although Ernie himself managed to sleep through most of the performance!

Check out the photogallery by clicking here.
 

"Support Dogs would like to thank everyone who supported the event," says Angela Gregory, Marketing & Fundraising Officer for the charity. "As well as the dogs taking part, those who sponsored them, everyone who donated items to the tombola and other stands and all the volunteers who helped to ensure that the event ran so smoothly."

"A very special thank you to Sarah Clay and her team at Halfkey Kennels for hosting the event and of course to our client Kate along with her husband Gavin, retired support Dog Norman and Ernie himself for all their hard work both on the day and in organising the event."
 

Support Dogs have teamed up with the Foundation for Social Improvement to offer you the chance to win a brand new Fiat 500 car at the same time as raising money to help the charity to continue its life transforming work.

The FSI charity, started up by the Secret Millionaire's Emma Harrison, is running the first small charity car draw. It gives small charities the chance to sell £2 paper or online tickets for up to a total of £1million, to raise their local profiles and funds for their causes.

81% of the £45.9 billion of money donated through the public, companies and grants each year goes to 3% of the largest charities in the UK. Nobody doubts their work is valuable but it doesn't leave much for the 166,000 smaller charities struggling to keep their doors open without resources to arrange large fundraising initiatives.

Emma Harrison, founder of the FSI said "the FSI helps to build strong small charities, small charities learn how to fundraise and run their organisations better and communities benefit from better resourced charities. The Car Draw is just one of our tools for getting funds to small charities without it costing them anything other than the time to sell a ticket. Putting it online thanks to Everyclick, means even this is just a matter of forwarding an email."

Everyclick.com is acting as online host for the small charity car draw, allowing all small charities, including those with no online facilities, to take part and sell tickets on the web. Charities can enter at no cost and will receive 95.2% of the ticket sales that they make.

The car up for grabs is an eco-friendly, efficient Fiat 500, kindly sponsored by Zurich. It's the car that has got Jeremy Clarkson raving "...my God, you come away from an experience behind the wheel absolutely loving it. It's cheeky and non threatening without being pathetic. It's practical without being boring".

To buy a ticket and have a chance at winning a fantastic Fiat 500 simply go to www.everyclick.com/supportdogs today and click on the "Win A Car" banner.

Paper tickets are also available in books of 10 tickets for supporters to sell to their friends, family and work colleagues. Simply contact Support Dogs on 0114  261 7800 or by email at supportdogs@btconnect.com to request your paper tickets.
 

Check out Support Dog Dougal in training to become a Seizure Alert Dog for a person with Epilepsy on the new television series Project Puppy.

Project Puppy gives eight abandoned dogs a second chance at life as they train to become highly skilled working dogs performing vital roles in the community.

Begins Monday 15th June 7.00pm on Animal Planet.

Check out Support Dog Dougal in training to become a Seizure Alert Dog for a person with Epilepsy on the new television series Project Puppy.

Project Puppy gives eight abandoned dogs a second chance at life as they train to become highly skilled working dogs performing vital roles in the community.

Begins Monday 15th June 7.00pm on Animal Planet.

Support Dogs is pleased to extend an open invitation to attend the charity's Annual General Meeting on Saturday 13th June 2009.

The event begins at 3pm at the charity's National Training Centre, 21 Jessops Riverside, Brightside Lane, Sheffield, S9 2RX.

RSVP: Tel:     0114  261  7800
           Email: supportdogs@btconnect.com

Important: Anyone attending with their dog should ensure that they are fully up-to-date with all health requirements eg health checks, flea treatment and routine vaccinations including kennel cough.

The appearance by Mic Martin and Support Dogs at Bank Holiday Monday's Barking Mayhem Dog Show has sadly had to be cancelled after the charity's patron was rushed into hospital to undergo surgery.

Everyone at Support Dogs wishes him a speedy recovery and we look forward to working together with Mic and his team very soon.

Meanwhile Support Dogs will be at this weekend's Kent County Fair which runs from the 2nd - 4th May at the Hop Farm, Paddock Wood Kent.

This family fun packed event includes quality trade stands, a shopping mall and dedicated entertainment zones this is a great day out for all the family.

Entertainment and displays include: Field Sports and Country Pursuits, Gundogs, Birds of Prey and Fishing Displays Horse and Hound Pony club games and show jumping, an action packed entertainment area, local Kentish produce to taste and buy and of course a traditional fun fair

Find out more by visiting  www.thehopfarm.co.uk of www.kentcountyfair.net

Clients, trustees and staff at Support Dogs received a huge boost, when after their appearance on last Saturday's Noel's HQ programme, Noel announced that he was launching his "Give A Dog A Phone appeal to help raise the vital funds needed for the charity to continue training its assistance dogs.

"We all have old mobile handsets lying in drawers and cupboards, never to be used again," says Noel. "Now we’ve found a way to help you clear out those old drawers and raise money for charity."

All you have to do is take your old phones to any Orange shop in the Mainland UK and Northern Ireland and pop them into the special Freepost Noel's HQ envelope.

Alternatively you can just write the following Freepost address on an ordinary envelope and pop your phone inside – Freepost, Noel’s HQ. All monies raised less processing costs will go to Support Dogs.

Please ensure you remove your sim card and any other personal data before donating.

"This is a wonderful surprise for everyone involved with Support Dogs," comments Angela Gregory, Support Dogs Fundraising Officer. "As a small charity, with limited resources, to have the support of Noel and his team plus everyone at Orange on such an appeal is simply fantastic. Like many charities, Support Dogs has been affected by the recession and donations have fallen, so this couldn't have come at a better time."

Each Support Dog costs in the region of £10,000 to train care for during its working life so approximately 2,000 phones will be needed to fund a single dog. The launch of the appeal brought in 653 old phones as Noel encouraged shoppers at Birmingham's Bullring shopping centre to give up their old phones for charity and members of the live studio audience handed in their old sets too.