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Julie and Paul Helliwell turned volunteer puppy socialisers for his or her first Support Dogs puppy in July 2019, taking care of Fox Red Labrador pup Jai-Jayy.
Jai-Jayy went on to turn out to be a lifeline for an autistic boy referred to as Jacob Brailsford, now aged 9, who earlier than having Jai-Jayy would solely go to a grocery store if he was sat in a purchasing trolley, hidden beneath a coat.
Julie and Paul might be talking about their experiences of taking care of hero help dogs-in-training throughout an occasion taking place at The Cricketers Arms in Cluntergate, Horbury subsequent month.
Support Dogs’ puppy socialisers present a loving home and assist the South Yorkshire-based nationwide charity put together its puppies over their first 14 months of life earlier than they begin full-time coaching as life-changing help dogs for autistic kids, or adults with epilepsy or a bodily incapacity.
Julie, a retired medical secretary and Paul, a retired IT safety advisor, determined to turn out to be puppy socialisers after Julie attended a Support Dogs’ discuss at her native Women’s Institute.
Since Jai-Jayy, they’ve additionally sorted the charity’s pups Corey and TJ.
The couple have most just lately been offering vacation cowl for Support Dogs, taking care of round a dozen help dogs-in-training whereas their volunteer doggy foster carers or puppy socialisers have loved a well-earned break.
Julie mentioned: “We think it’s a good way to volunteer because in the long run, it improves people’s lives.
“It’s also a way of having a dog without a lot of commitment.”
There comes a time when puppy socialisers should hand the puppy again to the charity, because it goes on to full-time coaching.
Although a bitter-sweet time, Julie, whose grandchildren additionally love having the dogs round, mentioned: “I look at it like children – when they leave home, you’ve done your job.
“And it’s not a sad time, because when you have your own dog and they leave you, it’s because they’ve died. But with this, they are moving on to better things, and you know you can always have another one.”
Support Dogs additionally covers the cost of pet food, vet’s payments and offers tools.
The puppy socialiser data session takes place at The Cricketers Arms from 3.30pm on Thursday, May 2. Click here for extra data.
