Julian Norton, veterinary surgeon and star of Channel 5’s ‘The Yorkshire Vet’, has backed our campaign Paws for a Cause.
Mr Norton has appeared on 20 series of the show and currently works at the Thirsk Veterinary Centre in North Yorkshire.
He said: “During my career as a vet and working with animals, I have seen countless occasions where support dogs have provided vital assistance.”
Mr Norton is involved with various animal charities including Riding for the Disabled which provides horse riding lessons for children with disabilities.
He added: “Paws for a Cause is a fantastic campaign which is looking to address the shortfall in trained dogs.”
Last year whilst Support Dogs received over 29,000 applications for assistance dogs, only 1% of applicants received one.
Support Dogs train dogs for a variety of purposes and are the only charity in the UK that train dogs to detect seizures.
Mr Norton added: “From detecting the early signs of a seizure or a cardiac crisis, a suitably trained dog can be transformative to people’s lives.”
Support Dogs are in need of volunteers and funding to allow them to continue to do the important work they are doing.
Our campaign is aiming to raise awareness £1000 to allow 10 children with autism to meet their support dog for the first time, secure 15 more sponsors for autism assistance dog Peggy, and get 10 people to register their interest in volunteering as a puppy socialiser.
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