We’re helping Dogs for Good change lives!

Dogs for Good train dogs to help children and adults with all sorts of challenges. Trained assistance dogs can help with conditions such as autism, physical disabilities, special educational needs and dementia. Every penny donated to this innovative charity helps with exploring ways dogs can enrich and improve lives and communities. We have worked with the charity since October 2017 and are proud sponsors of a Labrador called Prince and a Labrador x retriever called Wendy.

In 2019, we are devoting even more of our time to helping this inspirational charity. A team of dog sitting franchise owners, along with Richard Dancy of Barking Mad’s head office support team (pictured centre), recently attended the Caravan, Camping and Motorhome Show, at the NEC. Dogs for Good’s demonstration team put on an amazing display in the show’s Top Dog Arena! Our helpers were on hand to give out leaflets and spread the word about the amazing benefits of bringing dogs and people together.

Catering for canine events

Dog sitting business owners David and Andrea Cawley and Colette Crowley were joined by Barking Mad colleagues Lucy Wakefield and Cathy Martin, on February 19th at Dogs for Good’s National Training Centre in Banbury, Oxfordshire. Our Barking Mad crew was only too happy to assist with the serving of refreshments, to allow the charity to concentrate on addressing the important matter of dogs changing lives. Spending a few hours serving up tea and cakes is just one of the ways in which we are happy to help!

Leeds dog sitters change lives with buttons and bows

Husband and wife dog sitting team, Alan and Amanda Hartley, are rocketing towards their £1000 fundraising target for life changing charity Dogs for Good, by creating toy puppies out of facecloths, buttons and bows.

The Kippax based couple, who run the Leeds branch of the Barking Mad dog sitting service, have teamed up with some of their host families in the local area, to produce and sell the facecloth puppies at a suggested donation of £2.50 each. 250 facecloths, 500 ears, 500 eyes, 250 jewels or buttons, 60 metres of ribbon and many, many evenings have gone into the production of the adorable toys. With nearly £700 donated, Alan and Amanda are appealing for other dog lovers to help them reach their target.

Why Dogs for Good is our chosen charity

Amanda said: “It is our understanding of the benefits of dog companionship which has led us to become supporters of Dogs for Good. Assistance dogs are life changing and are hugely in demand. We are happy to do whatever we can to raise funds to train more puppies who will go on to make such a difference to someone’s quality of life. Our facecloth puppies are a fun way to help and always bring a smile to people’s faces.

We feel very proud to have been recognised by Dogs for Good. Alan and I were delighted to receive a personal thank you from them. We are aiming to reach our £1000 fundraising target in 2019. ”

Alan and Amanda are actively involved in various local groups including scouts, flower arranging and crafts. They were named as Barking Mad’s Community Champions of the Year for 2018 because they put their wider community at the very heart of everything they do.