George and The Caring Family Foundation celebrates “Dogs with Jobs” by RANKIN at Saatchi Gallery in partnership with The Kennel Club Charitable Trust.
DOGS are more than just pets. They can help us develop emotionally, they can sense when we’re feeling down and, for many, they are a lifeline in themselves as service animals. There are currently around 7,000 people in the UK who rely on a registered service dog, and the cost of each support dog partnership, from initial training to client training and support throughout its working life, is approximately £36,000.
In partnership with Dogs For Good, Support Dogs, Medical Detection Dogs and other small charities, the Kennel Club Charitable Trust has sponsored 30 dogs to become specially trained companions to adults and children coping with a range of medical problems or disabilities. In this context, the difference they make extends not just to dogs, but to people; people whose lives are turned around by the skill and sensory intelligence of a four-legged friend.
In an effort to raise funds to continue this crucially important work, The Kennel Club Charitable Trust has partnered with world-renowned photographer RANKIN to curate a bespoke exhibition at Saatchi Gallery, highlighting some of the UK’s most inspiring service dogs, from hospital therapy Huskies to police force Shiba Inus. George and The Caring Family Foundation have supported the exhibition.
RANKIN comments
I am honoured to have had the privilege to photograph these incredible dogs and their handlers. I have been a dog lover all my life, and know what joy they can bring, but to hear the stories of these brilliant creatures and better understand the work that they do is really eye-opening. It is a pleasure to bring together this exhibit for public viewing, and I encourage everyone to go and see it firsthand
George and The Caring Family Foundation celebrates “Dogs with Jobs” by RANKIN at Saatchi Gallery in partnership with The Kennel Club Charitable Trust.docx
Thunder, a Husky, who works as a support animal in a palliative care setting, and is often referred to as ‘The Wonder Dog’, is one of those featured in the exhibition.
His handler, Adrian, explains:
“It was on one visit where Thunder went to see a dear old gentleman who was ‘end of life’ and something strange happened. We witnessed something that made us all realise Thunder is a little bit more special than we ever thought. He climbed on the bed and lay alongside the gentleman, and you could visibly see Thunder take a deep breath and then he started slowing his breathing down, matching the man’s, he put his paw to the man’s hand and I took a picture, I didn’t know what was about to happen, he then put his head on his chest staring at his face, he was so calm and it seemed as though time had stood still.
The man who had been semi-conscious all morning had his eyes shut and his breathing was quite laboured, Thunder slowed down his breathing further still and was almost rocking the man with his warm fluffy body, without warning the man opened his eyes and stared into Thunders soulful eyes, he opened his mouth a little and spoke, “there’s an angel” he said and passed away!”
Thunder has worked with countless terminally ill people, been there for nine at the end and currently has four he sees monthly and weekly. Adrian, a self-proclaimed ‘6′ 3 ” Barnsley lad well into his 50’s’, further comments
‘working alongside Thunder has brought me to tears many times and I know I am a better person for it.’
Lily Waterton, Senior Programming Executive at Saatchi Gallery shares:
“We are delighted to bring this exhibition to life at the Gallery. It is a natural fit for us given that an unofficial member of the team at the Gallery is Gemma, a retired service dog owned by the Gallery Director. We can’t wait to see the portraits hung in Gallery 4, and to share the stories of the pawticipants with our audiences.”
“A Celebration of Dogs with Jobs” December 10-18th, Saatchi Gallery, King’s Road
Admission is free and pre-booking is not required. The Kennel Club Charitable Trust kindly thanks George, a dog-friendly Private Members Club in Mayfair, and The Caring Family Foundation for supporting the exhibition. The exhibition marks the start of a wider charity partnership between the Trust and George who together have major plans to make a difference for dogs in 2024.
Any donations made at donation points within the exhibition will help to fund health and welfare projects, including the training of service dogs. For more information on how you can help provide vital support to service dogs and to make a donation online, visit kennelclubcharitabletrust.org/christmas-2023
About
The Kennel Club Charitable Trust is a charity looking after the health and welfare of all dogs. As the charitable arm of The Kennel Club, The Trust was established in 1987 and funds a wide range of organisations, scientific projects and initiatives that support health, welfare and happiness of dogs in the UK and around the world. In 2022 the Trust initiated an appeal to help the plight of dogs and their owners in war-torn Ukraine. The appeal raised over £260,000. kennelclubcharitabletrust.org
A Birley Club and founded in 2001, George is a dog-friendly contemporary Private Members’ Club, Restaurant and Bar located on Mount Street in the heart of Mayfair, London. There is a ground-floor Dining Room, designed with clean lines and the walls are hung with works by David Hockney. Outside, a canopied terrace welcomes Members to dine al fresco throughout the seasons. The menu at George emphasises seasonal ingredients, its open kitchen creates classic brasserie dishes with both British and international influences. The downstairs bar is an Art Deco delight that has a playful ambience with nooks and corners which create endless opportunities for socialising on any scale from a tête-à-tête to a memorable evening. georgeclub.com | @georgemayfair
The Caring Family Foundation was set up in 2019 by Richard and Patricia Caring in response to a desire to feel more connected to the impact and outcome of their philanthropy. They wanted to focus on causes close to their hearts and be hands-on, remaining close to the journeys of the families and communities we work alongside. The Caring Family Foundation’s vision is a world free from hunger, harm and hurt, where women and children can thrive. Its mission is to work towards that world to ensure every child has access to a nutritious meal, every woman is free to make her own choices without violence and rainforest communities can flourish through tree-planting initiatives. The Caring Family Foundation is dedicated to improving the lives of women, with children at the heart of all that they do. They work to tackle child poverty, deforestation, and domestic abuse, in the UK and Brazil, with the core focus remaining on women and children across these areas.
thecaringfamilyfoundation.org | @thecaringfamilyfoundation
