Hounds for Heroes

Who we are

Our Hounds are specially trained Assistance Dogs.

Our Heroes are disabled HM Armed Forces and Emergency Services personnel whose quality of life can be improved by a partnership with one of our Hounds.

Hounds for Heroes was founded by Allen Parton so that injured personnel from the military and the ‘blue-light’ services have the opportunity to benefit from the life-transforming experience he had through partnering with an assistance dog. As a Royal Navy veteran himself, Allen (and the Charity), believes “We owe them a great debt and this is our way of saying thank you”.

Hounds for Heroes can fully fund the whole working life of our Hounds. In this way the provision of an Assistance Dog does not create a financial burden on the Partner at any time making the availability of the help we offer as wide as possible. However, if partners are able to assist with any of the costs involved this is greatly appreciated and also enables us to extend assistance to more individuals.

We have a small team of dedicated full-time and part-time staff who run the Charity based at our headquarters near Petersfield in Hampshire. Here they train our Hounds and process applications from across the UK, working with those whose lives might be improved if partnered with an Assistance Dog.

A good and beneficial partnership happens when the right dog with the right training joins the right applicant. Training a dog can take up to 24 months; meanwhile the important task of processing applications, so that all applicants’ capabilities and needs are properly understood, takes place. These parallel processes culminate in a Residential Training Course when everything is finally checked before the partnership of Hero and Hound commences.

Equality, diversity and inclusion policy

Hounds for Heroes is committed to being an equal opportunity employer and to ensuring that all officers, employees, job applicants, volunteers, casual workers and people with whom we deal are treated fairly and are not subjected to unfair or unlawful discrimination.

Hounds for Heroes believes that everyone should be offered the same opportunities regardless of race, nationality, ethnic origin, age, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, domestic circumstances, disability, pregnancy, gender reassignment, civil partnership or any other characteristic unrelated to the performance of the job. We seek to ensure that no one suffers, either directly or indirectly, as a result of unlawful discrimination. This extends beyond the individual's own characteristics, to cover discrimination by association and by perception.

We recognise that an effective equal opportunity policy will help all staff to develop to their full potential, which is in the best interests of both our staff and our business. We aim to ensure that we not only observe the relevant legislation but also do whatever is necessary to provide genuine equality of opportunity.

We expect everyone who works for us to be treated and to treat others with respect. Our aim is to provide a working environment free from harassment, intimidation, or discrimination in any form that may affect the dignity of the individual. This includes harassment and intimidation which is not based upon one of the protected characteristics listed above.

We further recognise the benefits of employing individuals from a range of backgrounds, as this creates a workforce where creativity and valuing difference in others thrives. We value the wealth of experience within the community in which we operate and aspire to have a workforce that reflects this.