Charities & Causes

DOGSTIVAL IS DELIGHTED TO BE SUPPORTING A NUMBER OF SELECTED CHARITIES

AND CAUSES FOR OUR 2020 EVENT

• CANINE PARTERS

Canine Partners is a registered charity that assists people with physical disabilities to enjoy a greater independence and quality of life through the provision of specially trained dogs. Over the past 28 years the charity has provided more than 750 trained dogs to help disabled people.

More than 1.2 million people in the UK use a wheelchair, and a significant number of those would benefit from a canine partner. The dogs are trained to help with everyday tasks such as opening and shutting doors, unloading the washing machine, picking up dropped items, pressing buttons and switches and getting help in an emergency. The charity aims to train dogs to meet the needs of people with even the most complex disabilities, including members of HM Armed Forces. Canine Partners is working closely with the Forces charity Help for Heroes, which has funded several partnerships of injured ex-servicemen and women.

These life transforming dogs also provide psychological and social benefits including increased independence, confidence and self-esteem. A canine partner also brings companionship, a sense of security and increases social interaction.

Canine Partners receives no government funding and relies solely on public donations. For further information visit caninepartners.org.uk  

• MEDICAL DETECTION DOGS

Can you imagine if a dog could detect an illness well before we had any idea there was a problem and reduce the need for intrusive, unpleasant and expensive diagnostic tests? Well for over 10 years, Medical Detection Dogs has been training dogs to do just that; to save lives using their amazing sense of smell. It does this with Medical Alert Assistance Dogs and Bio Detection Dogs, both of which can be trained to detect even the tiniest trace of the smell caused by a medical condition. Bio Detection Dogs are trained to detect diseases like cancers, Parkinson’s, malaria and bacterial infections. Medical Alert Assistance Dogs support people with complex health conditions like diabetes, PoTS and severe allergies when they are in danger of having a potentially life-threatening medical event, so they can take the necessary action and prevent hospital admission.

The charity is already making a huge difference to many by training dogs to not only save lives but also restore the confidence and independence that many of its clients lose when they become ill. And the list of diseases the world-leading Bio Detection research focuses on is growing all the time. Medical Detection Dogs relies solely on the public’s generosity and goodwill. Please help it continue its life-changing work. Your support will save lives. Come and meet the team at Dogstival and to find out more visit Medical Detection Dogs 

• HEARING DOGS FOR DEAF PEOPLE

Hearing Dogs for Deaf People is a national charity whose aim is to help deaf people leave loneliness behind and reconnect with life. Our clever dogs are highly trained to alert deaf children and adults to important and life-saving sounds, such as the smoke alarm, alarm clock and even intruder alarms and baby monitors. They also provide lots of love, companionship and emotional support, which is just as important as many deaf people can feel very isolated and lonely. This mixture of practical and emotional support is life-changing.

Hearing dogs wear a distinctive burgundy jacket which communicates to the wider public they are with a deaf person. This can make for better communication and understanding. Because a hearing dog goes everywhere, their deaf partners feel more confident being out and trying new things.

Come and meet us at our festival stand or join us on a Great British Dog Walk https://www.hearingdogs.org.uk/greatbritishdogwalk

• PETS AS THERAPY

Pets As Therapy (PAT) is a National Charity founded in 1983 by Lesley Scott-Ordish. PAT believe that no one should be without the companionship of animals whatever their circumstances. Pets As Therapy connect temperament assessed dogs and cats and their volunteer owners with children and adults in establishments such as schools, care homes, hospitals, hospices and prisons. The volunteer and their pet provide supporting reading services or welfare visits to children and adults who enjoy or are comforted by the presence of a dog or cat.

Pets As Therapy have over 5,700 registered volunteers throughout the UK.

Volunteers give as much time as they can to their visiting, there is no minimum! Visiting can take place during the working week daytime, early-evening and indeed weekends and should always be appropriate to both the volunteer and the establishment they will visit.

https://petsastherapy.org/support-us/donate/