Hero Dog Awards 2023 - Hero Dog Support - Albert and his owner Jemima Banks

LOCAL LIFE-CHANGING DOG NAMED AS FINALIST IN CRUFTS HERO AWARDSAn assistance dog from Warwickshire who helps his young owner to overcome debilitating pain and isolation has been announced as a finalist in the prestigious Kennel Club Hero Dog Award. Launching the world’s biggest celebration of dogs, Crufts, today (Wednesday 22 February), The Kennel Club and broadcaster Kay Burley announced the five hero dogs that will compete in the public vote for the award, with the winner being announced at Crufts 2023.Three-year-old Albert, named as the finalist in the Hero Support Dog category of The Kennel Club award, has helped his young owner overcome chronic, debilitating pain – and the isolation of living with an invisible illness – to become a high-flying lawyer, after being matched with her by the charity Dogs for Good. 24-year-old Jemima has suffered from debilitating health conditions and chronic pain, which cannot be treated with surgery, since she was 16. Rapid and overwhelming changes to her life meant that her dream of going to University was no longer viable and she became isolated from friends who were now living the life she'd hoped to be able to experience herself. She had no independence and her invisible illness made her world feel small. Having been matched with Albert by Dogs for Good, a Banbury-based charity who train dogs to help people affected by disability, dementia, autism, and other conditions, has made a huge difference to Jemima’s everyday life, restoring her independence and enabling her to thrive – both professionally and personally. With Albert by her side, Jemima’s professional life is flourishing and she is now training to be a solicitor at a top global law firm, where Albert is the star of the office. Kay Burley, speaking as an ambassador of The Kennel Club Hero Dog Award ahead of the unveiling of this year’s five finalists at Green Park, London, today, said: “These five special dogs are not only heroes to their owners but also to the rest of us. They make a huge difference every day by providing love, companionship and dedication, and protecting the nation and saving lives. “No one can deny the remarkable impact dogs have, from the joy they bring each day, to being by our side during the hardest times and showing extraordinary loyalty and bravery. The Kennel Club Hero Dog Award is a celebration of this unique bond we share with dogs and their heroic feats – please vote for your four-legged hero and celebrate these five inspirational dogs.”The annual Kennel Club Hero Dog Award celebrates the unique relationships people have with their dogs and the important role man’s best friend plays throughout our lives and in society. Judges from The Kennel Club, the UK’s largest dog welfare organisation, selected the five inspiring finalists to go forward for the public vote, with the winner being announced by Kay in the Resorts World Arena at Birmingham NEC on the final day of Crufts, the world’s greatest dog show, on Sunday 12 March. These five canine heroes are just some of the dogs having their day at Crufts and being celebrated at the show for the ways in which they change our lives. The award this year is also honouring those dogs involved with the search and rescue mission in Turkey and Syria after the horrific earthquake. These heroic teams will be specially recognised at Crufts for their bravery and dedication.  The winner of The Kennel Club Hero Dog Award will receive £5,000 from The Kennel Club Charitable Trust for the dog charity of their choice, with the other finalists receiving a £1,000 donation to their chosen canine charity.