Latest news with #DogsForGood
BBC News
09-07-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Blind man from Torquay prepares for Ben Nevis challenge
A blind man is preparing to climb the tallest mountain in the UK to raise money for a charity training working dogs that assist people impaired by health Timbrell, 60, from Torquay in Devon is planning to climb Ben Nevis in Scotland to support Dogs For dogs are trained to help their owners with tasks around the home such as emptying washing machines, picking things up and helping them take off items of clothing. Mr Timbrell will attempt the climb with the help of two companions, including a qualified mountain guide. "Mountains are a bit different to hill-walking," Mr Timbrell said. "Ben Nevis is what, 4,406 feet? The first half is apparently not too bad. The second half is probably more rocky, narrower paths and a zigzag all the way to the top."The hardest part will be coming down," he added. The money will be used to train assistance Banks has Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome and Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS) which means she has chronic pain and her joints dislocate also has issues with her heart and blood assistance dog Albert assists his owner with everyday tasks around the house. "He's [Albert] been completely life-changing," Ms Banks said. "I now have a whole job and a career and I can go on holiday and travel around and do things that I would never have done before I had Albert." "He helps me with things like taking off my jumpers and cardigans so I don't dislocate my shoulders. "He picks things up for me, he pulls doors open, he loads the washing machine and just enables me to live an independent life." Mr Timbrell has taken part in previous challenges for charity including a tandem bike ride and a sponsored walk. He is planning to do the climb at the end of October with the exact date depending on the conditions.
BBC News
26-05-2025
- General
- BBC News
Banbury charity reveals how life-changing assistance dogs are raised
"The need is always there - not just for assistance dogs but for positive connections with dogs."Dogs for Good in Banbury, Oxfordshire, trains dogs to help people with physical disabilities, autism and charity is currently caring for Labrador Retriever and Golden Retriever puppies at the very start of their journeys to become assistance Phelps, from Dogs for Good, told the BBC the charity was "involved in every step of every dog's life". The charity has its own breeding programme, through which it selects its broods and stud Phelps said volunteers look after the mothers and their puppies for the first eight weeks of their said: "During that time, our puppy team will come and visit mum and puppies to make sure that everything's progressing as it should be and that everybody's happy and everybody's safe."The characteristics that we look for in a puppy mum is calm, confident, adaptable - those really positive mothering instincts and a good all round dog that's going to be a lovely mum to her puppies."Each puppy will be with their volunteer for about 16 to 18 months until they return for formal Phelps said it was a lot for the female dogs to look after their litters, which could often be up to 12 puppies, and a week after giving birth were often ready to be "free" and "just be the pet dog again".Before they leave their mother, the puppies must be fully weaned, so that they are able to eat and drink independently. Ms Phelps said the charity was "more than a supplier of assistance dogs". "Twenty years ago we used to supply assistance dogs to physically disabled adults and children. "And we are really proud of that heritage - it is where we come from. "But, actually, it's only about 20% of the people that we connect with dogs that want an assistance dog."The charity's community dog programme, for example, involves a specially-trained dog and professional handler working together to support an individual's needs such as building self-esteem and overcoming said the charity was "broadening horizons all the time". "The need is always there, not just for assistance dogs but for positive connections with dogs," she said."That's why having a broad brush of service is so vital." You can follow BBC Oxfordshire on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.
