At the Vets: Honouring some of the bravest pets in the country

One of my happiest patients China now adopted rescue Staffie from Dogs Trust Shoreham very happy in her new forever home

Brilliant national rehoming charity Dogs Trust – of which we’re extremely lucky to have our own local rescue shelter in Shoreham - were announcing their canine champions to a star studded audience at a posh venue in London.

Dog-loving celebrities and their pooches rubbed shoulders and paws, all turning out to celebrate the UK’s most heroic canines, as the winners of the 2013 Dogs Trust Honours were revealed.

The fun filled afternoon was – as always - geared towards the winning dogs and guest pooches including personal butlers to make sure all their needs were catered for.

The seven proud winners, whittled down from hundreds of entrants, included beautiful Newfoundland ‘Atrayu’, deserved winner of Hero Service Dog.

Atrayu is a constant companion to his brave seven-year-old human best friend who suffers from leukaemia, helping him swim and providing constant relief and friendship.

‘Daisy’ the Bullmastiff won the ‘Dogged Devotion’ award after helping her family deal with ongoing grief after their seven year-old son recently lost his battle with brain cancer. Daisy is one of the sweetest dogs I’ve ever met.

Hero Dog was won by ‘Alice’ who works as a Canine Partners (fellow West Sussex charity) assistance dog to an ex-serviceman, wheelchair-bound following a bomb blast and carer for his 15 year-old son.

Both their lives have been considerably improved since Alice arrived as she not only helps him with daily tasks such as getting dressed, but also provides him with a sense of security and recently raised the alarm when he collapsed in the bathroom.

The afternoon was a wonderful way of raising awareness of the fantastic role that dogs play in our lives every day, and the amazing tasks that they do for us, as well as celebrating the brave dogs in the UK but also the fantastic work that the Dogs Trust do.

Visit their centre in Shoreham, their website: www.dogstrust.org.uk, and maybe even adopt a rescue dog!

by Marc Abraham | visit www.GroveLodgeVets.co.uk