Crufts Voting Lines Open
Sam and his assistance dog Josie are in the running for the Friends for Life Competition.
Part of the DFS Crufts Friends for Life Competition is the search for Britain’s ultimate canine hero and the voting lines for this year’s five finalists are now open.
A search dog that has saved countless lives sniffing out explosives in Afghanistan; the first dog in the UK to detect a rare disorder in its owner that can cause death; an assistance dog that has changed the life of a nine year old with a life limiting condition – all are amongst those searching for your votes in order to be crowned as DFS Crufts Friends for Life Winner 2010.
The dog that the public has voted as having the most truly deserving tale will be presented with its trophy during a special ceremony in the main arena at the Birmingham NEC, on the final night of DFS Crufts (Sunday 14th March) which will be televised live by More4.
Caroline Kisko, Kennel Club spokesperson, said: “The dogs that are nominated for this year’s Friends for Life competition have had a truly life changing impact on people’s lives and can teach us all a lesson about loyalty, companionship and bravery. Each has done well to get this far but it is now up to the public to vote for the dog’s story that inspires and moves them the most, so that they can be presented with their trophy in the main Arena at DFS Crufts.”
You can vote for your favourite Friends for Life story on the numbers below.
Friends for Life Finalists 2010
Bouncer, springer spaniel cross, owned by Paula Cogan.
Having been diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis at nine months old and needing a double lung transplant by the age of 13 Paula was used to having to cope with a life full of health challenges and long periods of hospitalisation. She got Bouncer when she was six years old and he gave her the motivation to carry out tasks that were increasingly difficult for her, from daily chores to daily walks and he repaid her with his friendship. It was the thought of coming back to Bouncer and looking forward to having the energy to be able to teach him new skills in agility and showing that got Paula through her transplant surgery, which has now given them both a new lease of life. To vote for Bouncer, please call 0844 646 02 01.
Treo, black Labrador, owned by Sergeant Heyhoe
Treo was deployed to Afghanistan in March 2008 as an arms explosive search dog and quickly adapted to the austere environment and daily challenges of life in a war zone. During his time in Helmand Province he showed amazing skill and bravery and made the biggest achievement of this career in August 2008 by sniffing out explosives, which had been wired together in a daisy chain and hidden in the path, saving the lives of soldiers and civilians. Please call: 0844 646 02 02 to vote for Treo.
Josie, yellow Labrador, owned by Sam Daly
Sam Daly, a nine year old boy with a muscle wasting disease says that “things were rubbish” before assistance dog, Josie, “came to love him”. Josie, who was matched with Sam by Dogs for the Disabled in 2008, helps with Sam’s physio, opens doors and takes his socks off, all tasks that his condition, Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, makes too difficult for him to do on his own. Since Sam and Josie have been together Sam has become much more confident and outgoing, because he is proud to talk about his new best friend. To vote Josie please call 0844 646 02 03.
Coco, chocolate Labrador, owned by Karen Ruddlesden
Coco is the first dog in the world to be able to detect a potentially fatal attack of Addison's disease in her owner, Karen. Coco saves Karen's life everyday by alerting her to when the Cortisol levels in her body fluctuate. He stops Karen from falling into a coma at least twice a week, by detecting when her body's cortisol falls below a certain level and fetches her medicine bag. The Kennel Club Charitable Trust Cancer has given £25,000 to the Cancer and Bio-detection Dogs charity, which trains dogs to detect cancer and hypo alerts in diabetics, and Coco is its first Addison's assistant dog. To vote for Coco, please cal 0844 646 02 04.
Jody, crossbreed, owned by Jess Thomas
It was after seeing a Pets As Therapy dog at Birmingham Children’s Hospital that 16 year old Jess began to smile again and found the will to fight her severe depression. Two years later, having seen the transforming effect that the PAT dog had on her life Jess registered her own dog, Jody, with the Pets as Therapy charity so that she could help other children in the same way. PAT dog Jody helped not only Jess but all of the other children that she went to see on the road to recovery. Despite becoming seriously ill with respiratory failure last year Jess pulled through with the thought of wanting to carry on her good work transforming others’ lives with Jody and with a promise of a parachute jump to raise money for Pets As Therapy and the work of PAT dogs, such as Jody, that she loves so much. To vote for Jody, please call 0844 646 02 05.
Birmingham Dogs Home has issued an urgent winter appeal as it faces more challenges over the Christmas period.
