An Army veteran from a local village is dedicating her time to nurturing puppies into life-saving companions for individuals in need. Diane Newton, 71, from Ranskill, volunteers as a puppy socialiser for the Sheffield-based charity Support Dogs. This national organisation trains and provides specialist assistance dogs to support autistic children and people living with epilepsy or physical disabilities.
Volunteering Journey
Diane, alongside her partner Sheila Janson, a 70-year-old retired staff sergeant, has been volunteering with the charity for approximately five years. The couple take care of puppies from a young age, preparing them for their critical training. One of their former puppies, a Labrador named Essi, has already graduated as a disability assistance dog for a woman in Nottinghamshire. Another puppy they nurtured, named Kibo, is currently training to provide a 100 percent accurate advance warning of an oncoming medical seizure.
Current Puppy: Sage
The pair are now looking after a nine-month-old Labrador puppy named Sage. Diane shared her experiences during Volunteers’ Week, which celebrates individuals who give their time for others. She described her volunteering using the 'three Ps': 'The pleasure of the dogs when they are puppies, then you get the pain of when they leave you – it’s emotional but you know it’s going to happen, then the pride of seeing them as adult dogs out in the world, making a difference.'
Regarding Sage, Diane said: 'Sage arrived when she was eight weeks old. She’s a lovely dark colour and she’s a smashing dog. She came from the same breeder as Essi so somewhere along the line, Essi is her aunt. She’s been no trouble. What I love about volunteering is just having the dog and improving it so it can go on and just make that difference. To anyone considering becoming a Puppy Socialiser with Support Dogs, I would say ‘go for it and enjoy every minute’. We’ve always had fantastic support from the Puppy Co-ordinators and there’s always someone at the end of the phone. And all equipment is provided, with expenses covered, and if you want to go on holiday, there’s holiday cover.'
Impact of Volunteering
A recent survey by the charity revealed that 89 percent of their 200 volunteers felt more physically active, while 78 percent felt healthier and had a greater sense of purpose. Rita Howson, chief executive at Support Dogs, stated: 'We couldn’t do what we do without the dedication and commitment of our 200 amazing volunteers and I’d like to take this opportunity to thank each and every one of them for their support – they are truly the backbone of our charity and we are forever grateful.'
Those interested in learning more about volunteering roles can visit the Support Dogs website or contact the charity directly by phone.
