Meet Belinda and Myrtle

Hey everyone! I’m Myrtle and I am enthusiastic, fun, and loving! I just adore people, which is the main reason I am here as a Dog Ambassador for Canine Partners. This really is the perfect role for me.

As well as saying hello to people, my favourite thing is opening and closing the washing machine, sometimes so much I do it multiple times! There is also the swimming in muddy puddles on my days off but maybe we shouldn’t talk about that too much (it really is super fun!). As well as attending events I am often at applicant assessment days for applicants and successors on our waiting list.

I live with the best family – my handler Belinda may sound familiar to some of you as she is an Advanced Trainer at our National Training Centre. Belinda started out as a Foster volunteer for the dogs in Advanced Training, she then also began volunteering in the kennels after seeing the amazing difference a Canine Partner can make to someone’s life. It sparked something in her and she was soon applying to for a full-time position in Dog Welfare. Whilst I was in Advanced Training, Belinda and her family got to foster me and well… I never left!

This is what Belinda has to say about volunteering and working for Canine Partners:

“When I attended my first foster dog’s graduation ceremony, I was amazed at the difference he’d made to his partner’s life and felt so special to have played a small part in his training journey. I knew at that point that I wanted to work for the charity. I started volunteering in the kennels at the National Training Centre and soon after got a job as a Dog Welfare Officer. I worked in that role for around two and a half years before moving into my dream role as an Advanced Trainer in May 2022. I feel so lucky to have found my dream job as well as my dream dog in Myrtle. She’s the best sassy little sidekick I could ask for. I love going to events, showing off her talents, and making audiences laugh with her cheeky little quirks. She has the cutest smile and is a pro at drawing in the crowds.”

Myrtle