The day job, for now....?
If you've come across my Author Bio you will know that I train guide dogs for the blind. The big news is that that's all about to change. No, I'm not turning into a full-time author. In fact, I'm still going to be working with amazing dogs who help people in need, but now it will be from another charitable
organisation, that focusses on Assistance Dogs. In fact, I'm going back to the organization for which I was a foster home for a puppy, way back when I started on this career path.
For this new job, I'm working with a colleague to set up a "social assistance" dog network throughout The Netherlands (as opposed to, for instance, therapy dogs). These are dogs that provide emotional support for people in various stressful situations, such as: undergoing cancer or other serious medical treatment in hospitals and rehabilitation centres; lonely and isolated people in care homes; and in schools, to
encourage introverted and under-confident children to read (out loud).
Because of the hygiene requirements for these settings we use poodles or
doodles - i.e. poodle crosses - as these breeds do not shed hairs all over the place. These are a completely new breed type for me and I've already met some fantastic characters. For instance, this big boy is a King Poodle, who is the perfect height to rest his head on hospital beds so patients can stroke his amazingly soft head.
