Ulti-mutt honour for Support Dogs’ volunteers

Sheffield-based national charity Support Dogs held its annual Graduation and Awards ceremony at the Sandman Signature Sheffield Quays Hotel.

As well as celebrating the record-breaking 23 life-changing assistance dog partnerships achieved on the charity’s autism, epilepsy and disability programmes in 2025, the selfless volunteers who help make the charity’s work possible were also recognised.

Among them were doggy foster carer Mel Poole, who was named Foster Carer of the Year, having been credited with turning around the fortunes of some of the charity’s most challenging pooches, enough to see two of them - autism assistance dog Frank and disability assistance dog Chris -graduate.

Mel told the audience: “It wouldn’t have been possible without my family – Dave my husband and James and Harry and thanks to all the trainers. It’s been brilliant to see the partnerships and seeing Frank and Chris doing what they do best.”

Mel has been a foster carer with Support Dogs since January 2023.

She has done brilliantly with some challenging dogs who had struggled with dog distraction, taking on the charity’s advice and getting all three dogs through to partnership work.

The 46-year-old project manager from Chapeltown explained afterwards how she got into volunteering for Support Dogs: “I’ve always loved dogs and I saw an advert on social media looking for puppy socialisers. I looked into foster caring for Support Dogs and it went from there.

“I’m really humbled by the award. It’s nice to be recognised but certainly not something I expected.

“What’s driven me to persevere with the dogs is just seeing how much the charity needs people like us to help. It’s really nice to see the dogs go on and be successful and change people’s lives.”

Katie Sully, also of North Sheffield, was named Volunteer of the Year.

Over the past five years, Katie has been a puppy socialiser, holiday cover provider, event volunteer and office volunteer and has helped Support Dogs to raise thousands of pounds by overseeing the charity’s eBay sales of puzzles and jigsaws.

After providing many holiday covers, last year Katie took on her first full-time puppy, Garry. She has gone above and beyond in giving Garry a great start to working life.

She has also jumped in to attend many events and talks at schools, nurseries, Ikea, most of the supermarkets in South Yorkshire and most recently a Peter Hook event at City Hall, as well as taking stock to events she’s not attending herself.

Katie, who volunteers alongside partner Stuart Ellerington, said: “Seeing these amazing partnerships – that’s why we do it. It’s great to be part of. I have made some great friends.”

Also recognised was the charity’s ambassador dog, black Lab Burnsie, a recent retiree hailed as “a true legend in the Support Dogs family”, who has attended countless community and corporate events and became a cherished member of the office team.

Other South Yorkshire-based volunteers honoured included Doncaster’s Trevor Mountford (Puppy Socialiser of the Year) who is looking after his fourth dog for Support Dogs, having raised autism assistance dogs Harry and Zeus, working a miracle to help Mason into working life, now looking after pup Gilly and also helping with fundraising efforts.

Barnsley’s Isabelle Lauder, eight, was crowned Young Volunteer of the Year after scaling Mount Snowdon with her dad Tom and also helping her family to look after the charity’s dogs.

To find out more about the incredible work of Support Dogs, please visit www.supportdogs.org.uk or call 0114 2617800.