Dog’s healing nature has her in national hero final
SHE’S won the North East’s Lockdown Dog Hero competition – and now caring canine River has the chance to get her paws on the national title.
The cute Labrador retriever cross won the hearts of Chronicle readers after her owner Anna Chandler told how her special pet had helped her get through lockdown.
After the death of her father, Anna was finding life tough and was experiencing anxiety and depression.
But when her pet, River, who was training to be a guide dog, came into her life, the four-legged pet brought sunshine into her world.
And, as nominees came flooding in, River attracted more than 200 votes to win her the North East title.
On entering our competition Anna, 21, of Sunniside, near Gateshead, wrote of two-and-ahalf-year-old River: “Ex-guide dog River has been helping me to gradually overcome anxiety and depression, which was brought on two years ago after my dad passed away suddenly when I was 18. During lockdown she hasn’t left my side, staying next to me when I’ve had down days.”
River has won a £100 voucher, for family-run food-for-dogs company Butcher’s, and a place in the grand final to find Britain’s ultimate Lockdown Dog Hero.
The winner of that competition wins a year’s supply of Butcher’s and a £1,500 towards a dog-friendly break.
Northumbria University student Anna said: “I have struggled since my dad died in September 2017 and had I not had River, I don’t think I would be here.”
Anna’s dad was Chis Chandler, chairman of the National Taxi Association. He died after having leukaemia.
River was being training to be a dog for the blind by Anna’s mum but after passing all her tests, it was decided she couldn’t make the grade as she has a skin allergy, and she came to live with the family. Anna said: “River is the most chilled-out dog you could ever meet. She knows if one of us is having an off day, she just senses it.
“River has that special instinct and she knows when things are getting stressful for us.
“River and I have a great connection and she has a great awareness of my emotions.
“I am always helping other people and River picks up on that. I feel we could all just do with a break.”
There will be a total of 22 Lockdown Heroes from across Britain in the national final, and you can vote for the winner from tomorrow until midnight on Monday.