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Award for couple who trained support dogs

Support Dogs A woman wearing a blue top holds a golden Labrador puppy on her lap. Behind her are two blue chairs and a laptop on a table.Support Dogs
Janet Dyson said fostering dogs lifted the couple's spirits during her husband's illness

A couple who trained assistance dogs while one of them was receiving treatment for cancer have been given an award by a charity.

Janet Dyson and her husband Peter, from Sheffield, began volunteering for the Support Dogs charity in 2022, but Peter became seriously ill later that year.

Mrs Dyson, 65, said the couple fostered their first dog shortly before the diagnosis and having an animal to care for had helped them both during the treatment.

She said she took the Labrador, named Frank, to see her husband when he was sick and "it just lifted his mood - it was as if Frank knew".

SUPPORT DOGS Janet and Peter are stood together with arms around each other. They're holding a certificate and a small, glass trophy.SUPPORT DOGS
Janet and Peter Dyson won the Support Dogs foster carers of the year award

Frank was eight weeks old when the couple fostered him.

"He's such a character, when we went to the centre to pick him up, he walked in like he owned the world - he gave us joy since day one," Mrs Dyson, a former University of Sheffield worker, said.

But when Frank was four months old, Mr Dyson, 71, became ill.

He was diagnosed with three bacterial infections, as well as sepsis and pneumonia, and placed in a medically-induced coma at the Northern General Hospital.

Mrs Dyson said caring for Frank helped them both.

"It was very hard, there were times when he was very demanding and I was exhausted, but a little sit on the floor and a cuddle just made up for it," she said.

In August 2023, Frank left their care and went into full-time training.

He has since become an assistance dog for an autistic child.

JANET DYSON Two Labrador dogs are lying side-by-side. Their rear legs are touching, like they're holding hands.JANET DYSON
The couple looked after dogs Kelly and Adam while Peter was receiving radiotherapy

Mr Dyson was diagnosed with prostate cancer after fostering Frank.

Despite planning to take a break from volunteering, the couple fostered two support dogs at once while Mr Dyson received radiotherapy.

Labrador cross Kelly stayed with the couple for six months and trainee support dog Adam still lives with the couple.

Mr Dyson is now cancer-free.

Mrs Dyson said it was "such a surprise" to be named foster carers of the year by the charity.

"You just know that these dogs are going to go on to do amazing things, you can see what a difference they'll make to their families," she said.

Danny Anderson, the charity's head of fundraising, said the couple "always step up to the mark, and not only step up to say yes, but go that extra mile providing the happy home our dogs need".

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