TV presenter Lorraine Kelly is hosting a podcast for the charity Dogs for Good together with MORE THAN pet insurance.
Paws to Talk hosted by Lorraine, celebrates the special relationships dogs help us form and shares stories of how assistance dogs have changed the lives of their owners.
The podcast is a part of ‘Dogtober’, a month-long fundraising campaign for Dogs for Good. The purpose is to encourage Brits to take up a 100km walk challenge to help raise vital funds for the charity.
Lorraine talks with those who work with and are supported by Dogs for Good, sharing their stories of how their assistance dogs have helped build their confidence and social connections.
A new study by MORE THAN and Dogs for Good reveals the scale of social isolation in the UK, finding that almost two fifths (38%) of Brits regularly feel lonely. Those with disabilities are even more affected, with nearly half (47%) stating that they regularly feel lonely.
The study also found that those with dogs are more sociable, with dog-owners more likely to go for a walk at least once a day compared to the average person, and more likely to strike up conversations with new people.
Of all dog-owners surveyed, 69% agree that they get out of the house more during the winter now that they have a dog. and over half of dog owners (53%) say they have met new people through walking their dog.
The effect is even more pronounced within disabled dog-owners, with seven in ten (71%) disabled dog owners find that they are approached more often when they are with their dog as compared to when they are alone.
The first episode of the podcast, Jemima’s Story, hears Lorraine in conversation with Dogs for Good assistance dog partner Jemima about how her assistance dog Albert has changed her life and enabled her to have the career she’s always dreamed of.
Lorraine said: “I’ve absolutely loved hosting Paws to Talk with MORE THAN and Dogs for Good and hearing incredibly powerful stories about how assistance dogs are helping to change the lives of the people they support.
“When winter closes in, my dog Angus gets me out of the house and chatting to people, even when I would sometimes rather stay home with a cup of tea! He needs his daily walks and plays a crucial role in inspiring my daily conversations – I hope by sharing these stories, we can encourage other dog owners and dog lovers to take toile to chat and make new friends.”
Episode one of Paws to Talk is now available, with future episodes released throughout October on all major podcast platforms, including Spotify and Apple Podcasts.
