Visitors attending Crufts this year will get the chance to meet the top dogs nominated for the HiLife Pets As Therapy Dog of the year award.
The HiLIfe PAT Dog of the year competition recognises the remarkable dogs that visit schools, hospitals and care homes throughout the year, to help improve the lives of children and adults in their community.
The public have voted in their thousands and finalists Jack, Lulu the Labradors, Maggie the Greyhound, Abbee the Golden Retriever, Bella the Bichon Frise and Molly the Border Collie will attend a presentation day at Crufts, where one pup and their owner will be crowned winner.
Always keen to enlist the help and support of more volunteers to meet demand, the charity will be on hand in the Crufts Good Citizen area, to talk to visitors about the life changing impact volunteers and their dogs can have on the lives of others.
Deborah Dow, CEO of Pets As Therapy, said: “The HILife PAT Dog of the Year competition is a fantastic opportunity to shine a light on the wonderful work that all of our dogs and their owners do in communities, week in week out.
“Our volunteers really do change lives and the five finalists were nominated by the local organisations they support, who shared moving and heart-warming tributes, highlighting their dedication to helping others.
“We would like to thank HiLife for continuing to help us promote our charity’s work and for encouraging more people to register as a volunteer with Pets As Therapy.”
Commenting on the longstanding relationship with Pets As Therapy, Tony Parkinson, Managing Director for HiLife, said: “Each year we look forward to hearing the inspiring stories of the Pets As Therapy volunteers and to helping celebrate the incredible power of pets.
“The selfless nature of these brilliant dogs and their ability to offer unconditional love brings so much joy to everyone they meet. Now in our 16th year of sponsoring this award, it’s always a privilege to be involved in the Crufts presentation day and meet the owners of these four-legged heroes.”
If you are interested in becoming a Pets As Therapy volunteer you can visit www.petsastherapy.org. For more information about HiLife, visit www.hilifepet.co.uk.
