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The Endal Awards, organised by Dogs Today magazine, recognise a dog or person that has done something truly remarkable or inspirational, and the winners (dogs and owners), came together at the London Pet Show on Saturday (11 May) to be presented with their award and to share their stories.
Amongst the thousands of visitors on Saturday was Sir Bruce Forsyth who was there to support his daughter Debbie Matthews who was presented with an Endal medal for her Vets Get Scanning campaign www.vetsgetscanning.co.uk. Owen Howkins and his famous dog Haatchi both won medals as did Simon Davies and Poppy, Gerri Budd’s dog Tilly and Susie Wilde’s dog Maud. Congratulations to all the very deserving winners.
The winners were presented with their award in a very emotive and emotional ceremony that really brought home the importance that dogs have for their owners, giving help, companionship, support and friendship to people in very different and sometimes difficult situations in life.
The winners’ stories were read by Beverley Cuddy, Editor of Dogs Today magazine, and the medals presented by Allen Parton and Endal Junior (EJ) from Hounds for Heroes. Click here for further information about each winner. And here for further info on Allen’s charity.
The crowd were also lucky enough to be entertained by Sir Bruce Forsyth, who came along to support his daughter Debbie. Sir Bruce gave an entertaining and heart-warming speech about his family and the work that Debbie has done to receive an Endal Award.
Thanks also go to Husse who presented the Endal Medal winners with £300 of products from the Husse range of snacks, toys, accessories and food. Husse, a Swedish Brand, established in 1987 produces a wide range of premium and super premium quality pet food delivered directly to the customer. Husse is available worldwide; here is their UK website: http://www.husse.co.uk/home
The official group photo from the Endal medal ceremony 2013 held pm Saturday. Right to left:
Seated Medal Winners: Susie Wilde with Maud, (Endal’s younger half sister -a chip off the old block). Maud saved Susie’s life when she collapsed with a potentially fatal heart problem. Medal winner Debbie Matthews founder of Vets Get Scanning, a campaign group that aims to get every dog scanned for microchips on their first visit to the vet to help reunite lost and stolen dogs who have been sold on to unsuspecting new owners.
Medal winners Gerri Budd and Tilly who helped her owner recover from the debilitating Guillian barre syndrome and then helped her cope with a very sudden bereavement.
Allen Parton, Hounds for Heroes founder with EJ (Endal Junior).
MD of prize sponsors Husse UK, vet Dr Majid Rajaby.
Seated Nicki Passmore with Rookie from Hounds for Heroes.
Medal winners Simon Davies and Poppy, Simon suffered from PTSD after serving in Bosnia and rescue dog Poppy – who helped him face the world again. The medal ceremony was the first time Simon had left his village since returning from war. His parents told us that Poppy winning a medal was quite simply the best thing that had ever happened to Simon!
Medal winner Owen ( Haatchi Howkins-Drummond) who was sadly without his best friend Haatchi who was at home resting ready for his operation today. Haatchi was chained to a high speed railway line and lost a back leg and his tail after being stuck on the tracks for five long days. Owen was born with a very rare genetic condition that affects his growth and mobility. Haatchi and Owen became inseparable. Owen had become reluctant to go out as he disliked people staring at him when he moved from a child’s buggy into a wheelchair. Going out with Haatchi changed everything as he loved telling people about his very brave friend. We wish Haatchi well for a good result today at the vet hospital.
Sir Bruce Forsyth, very proud dad of medal winner Debbie Matthew.
Seated, Endal medal organiser, editor of Dogs Today and Hounds for Heroes trustee Beverley Cuddy.
Read more about these amazing medal winners and also read about the wonderful winners from the first two years, too.http://www.dogstodaymagazine.co.uk/endal/index.html
