Letters to the editor
Hounds For Heroes Is Here At Last!
9th March 2010
Hounds for Heroes is here at last
Hounds for Heroes is here at last
Hounds for Heroes has finally arrived, a new and initiative charity who's aim is to place highly trained assistance dogs with injured and disabled servicemen and women and personnel from emergency services.
Their mission statement
The purpose of "Hounds for Heroes" is to provide specially trained assistance dogs to injured and disabled men and women of both the UK Armed Forces and Civilian Emergency Services. Through this provision our aims are to provide help and practical support, leading to an enhanced quality of life for our clients.
A long held dream of one man, Gulf war veteran Allen Parton, who's story of his partnership with Labrador Endal is became the subject of documentaries, an international best selling book and now now it is being turned into a major movie.
"I was always amazed"
said Allen
"at the public interest in Endal's and my story but I couldn't except that we were unique and why this sort of thing was not the norm...... that just couldn't be right?"
"Service dog Endal came into my life and became the best physical and psychological rehabilitation I could have ever received. He transformed not only my life but that of my family to... the benefits extending far past meeting just my own needs.
EJ (Endal junior) has continued to give me the same quality of life and independence that I experienced with Endal and every day our partnership grows stronger, together there are truly no limits to what we can achieve. I just so wanted other to experience the same.
Suddenly I found myself surrounded by an absolutely amazing group of people who wanted to make Hounds for Heroes a reality and they have done just that. We were formally registered with the charity commission two weeks ago and we have spent quite a long time getting our house in order.
We are in the very fortunate position of have the experience of the other assistance dogs organisations to draw on both in the UK and overseas, what works and what doesn't, which we hope will makes us cost effective in our operations.
Hounds for Heroes tell PETsmiles, their first major offensive now is to launch their "puppies on parade" appeal with the aim of raising £100,000 so that they can purchase, train and support their first five Hounds for Heroes.
The first puppy already named Juno after the D Day beach and it is the charity's intention that all the dogs will have military/service related names.... even Flame for the fire service dog and Morse for the police dog.
With four serving members of the armed forces as trustees (just returned from Afghanistan) and if that is not humbling enough "
said Allen
"we've a battalion of serving personnel supporting the charity but obviously without public support and backing we will struggle. We are now setting up ways for supporters to make donations to the charity and very soon our official web site will go live.
We are structuring the charity to meet the specific needs of our clients. Our name very provocative "Hounds for heroes" but we all agreed that we could not use that name and not include injured and disabled personnel from the police fire and paramedic services... all proudly serving Queen and Country. Ironically during our research we found quite a few ex armed forces personnel were now serving in the emergency services.
I was the face of the Royal British legion poppy appeal"
said Allen
"and on my poster it stated that there are over 900,000 injured service men and women in the country today. Yet only a hand full have chosen to have a life enhancing assistance dogs.
Many perceiving assistance dogs as badge of disabilty and weakness. Quite often we read in the news papers of a servicemen having lost two legs completing the London marathon on prosthetic limbs or other equally inspiring feats of endurance.
Where in that stoic mentality does one fit in an assistance dog hence why we need to tailor the Hound for heroes dog to the unique
requirements of our clients
Hounds for Heroes intends to break this negative image and promote the dogs as badges of ability and honor. It is very difficult to explain to those that have never experienced it but within the services there is a very special commradry built of trust, loyalty and team work.
Hounds for Heroes hope to replicate that in the partnering of clients with a Hounds for Heroes. Hounds for Heroes dogs jacket will bear the service emblem of the clients regiment, ship, squadron etc. Any medals awarded will be embroidered on to the dogs jackets.
Chairman Sqn Ldr Wayne Palmer said
"I was extremely honoured to be elected Chairman to this fantastic charity, where we will be making a difference for our heroes; those men and women of our Armed Forces and Emergency Services who have been disabled. These are our people who routinely put their lives on the line, as part of their duty, and as a nation we should be looking after them. "
Hounds for Heroes is registered in England and Wales as a Charitable Company limited by Guarantee Company number 07130031 Registered Charity number 1134359
Daytime telephone: 07788 934 455
Mobile: 07788 934 455