英国退伍老兵义务为老人和患者遛狗13载 被授予“长期服务奖”
Not all heroes wear capes—some walk dogs. Like John Howarth, for instance, who has walked the dogs of elderly and ill people in his community every day for 13 years. The 74-year-old man, who served in the Royal Navy for 22 years, does this because he really loves dogs, and he knows they can make fantastic companions even for people who are too weak to give them the exercise that they need. He carries out this noble duty as a volunteer for The Cinnamon Trust, a national charity for the elderly, the terminally ill and their pets. In recognition of his work, the charity recently honoured John with a long service award.
John, from Somerset, said, “For some people who live alone, having someone to walk their dogs means the dog gets exercise, and they get contact from someone on a regular basis. Some volunteers for the trust don’t walk dogs every day, but I do as I hate to think of the dog expecting a walk and them being disappointed. Mostly the dogs are old too, so a half-hour walk is enough. All people seem to be grateful for my help. Some don’t see anyone else for the whole day. The dogs are always pleased to see me, and I am happy to see them.”
John’s role hasn’t been all smiles and strokes, though. On one occasion, a large grey dog belonging to an old woman with cancer pulled him over while running after a cat, causing him to cut his face and broke his glasses. Over his years of duty he has also experienced a lot of loss, with many dogs and their owners passing away. But while these experiences have been painful, John knows his service is invaluable and his dedication has made his family proud. He said, “I intend to carry on for as long as I am able, which will hopefully be for some time yet.”
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