Newfoundlands Storm, Sonar, Bob and Walker, and owner, Pete/ The Kennel Club Hero Dog Award - Hero Support Dog

Hero Support Dog  Newfoundlands Storm, Sonar, Bob and Walker, and owner, PetePete Lewin, from Leicester, runs a non-profit organisation working with his Newfoundland dogs for suicide prevention. This amazing team provides support for staff from front-line emergency services and military veterans, and those struggling with their mental health. With the Covid-19 pandemic, this has never been more important. Pete, who himself is a long-standing front-line paramedic for the East Midlands Ambulance Service, has worked with water dogs as a hobby for around 25 years. Both his own experiences and feedback from others about the positive effects of swimming in open water with Newfies, who are natural water rescue dogs, made him realise the potential for a unique experience to support people with mental health needs."These dogs really are life-savers,” says Pete. “One guy came to us after he took an overdose. Before swimming with the dogs, he was suicidal, and now he works for the ambulance service. Whatever it is that the dogs have got, it is helping people."