A CHARITY that provides dogs to veterans with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder has received a generous donation from Freemasons in Dorset that will be used to reward veterans and their four-legged friends with trophies for the greatest development.
Service Dogs UK – which provides Veterans from the Armed Forces and emergency services suffering with PTSD with specially trained assistance dogs in the South West – received a charitable £1,000 donation from Dorset Freemasons.
The charity – which provides the service at no cost to the veteran – is the only ADI (Assistance Dogs International) accredited PTSD assistance dog charity in the UK.
The charity carefully selects rescue dogs, who are also in need of help, and then trains them for their new role as an assistant dog.
Nigel Rousell, South West Hub Manager at Service Dogs UK, said: “We are hugely grateful to Dorset Freemasons for the generous donation of £1,000 to our South West Hub. These funds will be ring-fenced for a reward project that we wish to launch.”
Once rescue dogs have completed basic training, veterans then train their own dog under the guidance of professional dog trainers for around nine to 12 months, which Service Dogs UK say greatly benefits both the veteran and the dog.
The reward project, which will run annually, will see the veteran who makes the best progress with their dog awarded with a trophy.
Graham Glazier, Head of Dorset Freemasonry has been invited to attend the Service Dog UK award presentation later in the year.
Mt Glazier said: “We are proud to support Service Dogs UK who are helping the brave who have served our country, manage their daily lives”.
In December last year, the head of Dorset Freemasons signed the Armed Forces Covenant at the Armour Centre Lulworth Camp.
The covenant is a promise to ensure that those who serve or have served in the armed forces, and their families, are treated fairly.
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Mr Glazier said: “Dorset Freemasons commit to honour the Armed Forces Covenant and support the Armed Forces community. We recognise the value Serving Personnel, both regular and Reservists, Veterans and military families contribute to our country. The Provincial Grand Lodge of Dorset is proud of our commitment to the Armed Forces Covenant.”
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