Hearing Dogs for Deaf People launches Great British Dog Walk charity event

The Great British Dog Walk has been launched by Hearing Dogs for Deaf People, a charity which trains dogs to support deaf people.

The initiative has been created to encourage as many people as possible to take part in an organised dog walk at one of ten National Trust and National Trust for Scotland locations across the UK throughout the next few months.

Supporting the Great British Dog Walk is father and son duo Bruce and Ben Fogle who are dog owners and ambassadors of the charity. Bruce Fogle co-founded Hearing Dogs for Deaf People over 30 years ago and his TV presenter and writer son Ben Fogle is the charity’s celebrity ambassador.

While at the launch of the national walk in the National Trust’s Osterley Park in West London, the pair met some of the charity’s hearing dogs and witnessed a demonstration of the work carried out by the animals to aid people who are deaf.

Ben Fogle, who brought his own four month old puppy along to the launch, said: “I am delighted to be launching the Great British Dog Walk with my father Bruce, and it is always a joy to watch these clever little dogs in action. As a family, we are huge animal lovers and we’ve just welcomed a new puppy called Storm into the Fogle household. She’s a gorgeous young black Labrador and my kids absolutely adore her!

“Over the years I must have walked thousands of miles with my dogs, and the Great British Dog Walk is a great chance to explore the British countryside and spectacular National Trust properties with all the family. The charity is a cause that is very close to my heart, and every penny raised will help to train more puppies to transform the lives of deaf people.”

There are over 10 million people in the UK with hearing loss and Hearing Dogs for Deaf People currently have over 750 working partnerships between trained dogs and deaf people. The charity trains dogs to perform a range of duties that alert deaf people to household sounds and danger signals such as a doorbell, a smoke alarm or the sound of a telephone. The work carried out by dogs help deaf people continue to live an independent and fulfilling lifestyle.

Mr Fogle’s father Bruce said: “Deafness can be a very isolating and lonely disability, but a hearing dog makes a life-changing difference.

“Not only do these intelligent dogs help deaf people feel safe, but they also provide a greater sense of confidence and independence in everyday life. By joining the Great British Dog Walk, you will be raising funds to help more deaf people receive the life-changing gift of a hearing dog.”

For more information about the national walk please visit: www.greatbritishdogwalk.org