Members of a dog training club have raised funds to purchase a puppy for local charity Dogs for the Disabled, in rather an unusual manner! Paws Dog Training Club, whose members hail from Wakefield and Barnsley, followed in the footsteps of the Calendar Girls with a risqué photo shoot, resulting in their very own cheeky calendar which was sold on behalf of the charity.
Members of the group were pictured in a variety of situations alongside their dogs. The bigger the dog, the better the chance of covering their modesty!
Paws decided to support Dogs for the Disabled, who opened their Wakefield training centre in 2008, as the charity provide trained assistance dogs to help children and adults with disabilities live more independently - thus linking together humans and adults in a mutually beneficial relationship, something the group could relate to.
Paws promote responsible dog ownership through puppy socialisation, dog obedience and fun activities including agility and fly ball. They also aim to help charities regularly, the idea of a calendar being one under discussion for some time.
In 2009 the idea became a reality as members bravely stepped forward to be included in the tasteful yet cheeky calendar. Group member Carol Ward said: “The photography sessions were a lot of fun and not as embarrassing as you might think. Getting the props and dogs in the right place to take us from nude to nearly nude was a skill. With some luck and a fast finger on the camera clicker, the end result was fantastic and sold extremely well to friends, family and the general public.”
Dogs for the Disabled became aware of the calendar when members of the group visited one of the charity’s open days. It wasn’t long before they were back with a large cheque, enough funds having been raised to purchase a puppy which would begin training with the charity. Frankie, a 3 month old Black Labrador Retriever, was the result of all this hard work and daring.
Having begun his initial puppy socialisation training Frankie is doing well, and all signs are promising for an eventual career as an assistance dog with the charity. Rowan Martin, Dogs for the Disabled Fundraiser said: “We are thrilled that Paws have chosen to support us, and by purchasing a suitable puppy for the charity, a child or adult with a disability will be able to enjoy a more independent life through their assistance. We have a copy of their calendar hung proudly on our office wall, but we can guarantee that our team will not be following in their footsteps!”
If you are part of a group and would like to consider fundraising for the charity, please contact Rowan on 01924 860699 or email rowan.martin@dogsforthedisabled.org
