RANKIN PRESENTS 'A CELEBRATION OF DOGS WITH JOBS' AT SAATCHI GALLERY
December 2023
Karen with Dennis, Riot and Rosie. Image credit: RANKIN
In partnership with Dogs for Good, Support Dogs, Medical Detection Dogs and other small charities, the Kennel Club Charitable Trust has sponsored more than 30 dogs to become specially trained companions to adults and children coping with a range of medical problems or disabilities. There are currently around 7,000 people in the UK who rely on a registered service dog, and the cost of each support dog partnership, from initial training to client training and support throughout its working life, is approximately £36,000.
In an effort to raise funds to continue this crucially important work, The Kennel Club Charitable Trust has partnered with world-renowned photographer RANKIN to curate an exhibition at Saatchi Gallery, highlighting some of the UK’s most inspiring service dogs, from hospital therapy Huskies to police force Shiba Inus. The exhibition has been supported by George and The Caring Family Foundation. Any donations made at donation points within the exhibition will help to fund health and welfare projects, including the training of service dogs.
RANKIN comments “I am honoured to have had the privilege to photograph these incredible dogs and their handlers. I have been a dog lover all my life, and know what joy they can bring, but to hear the stories of these brilliant creatures and better understand the work that they do is really eye-opening. It is a pleasure to bring together this exhibit for public viewing, and I encourage everyone to go and see it firsthand”.
Thunder, Autumn and Wynter. Image credit: RANKIN
Thunder, a Husky, who works as a support animal in a palliative care setting, and often referred to as ‘The Wonder Dog’, is one of those featured within the exhibition. His handler, Adrian, explains:
“It was on one visit where Thunder went to see a dear old gentleman who was ‘end of life’ and something strange happened. We witnessed something that made us all realise Thunder is a little bit more special than we ever thought. He climbed on the bed and lay alongside the gentleman, and you could visibly see Thunder take a deep breath and then he started slowing his breathing down, matching the man’s, he put his paw to the man’s hand and I took a picture, I didn’t know what was about to happen, he then put his head on his chest staring at his face, he was so calm and it seemed as though time had stood still.”
The man who had been semi-conscious all morning had his eyes shut and his breathing was quite laboured, Thunder slowed down his breathing further still and was almost rocking the man with his warm fluffy body, without warning the man opened his eyes and stared into Thunders soulful eyes, he opened his mouth a little and spoke, “there’s an angel” he said and passed away!”
Thunder has worked with countless terminally ill people, been there for nine at the end and currently has four he sees monthly and weekly. Adrian, a self-proclaimed ‘6' 3" Barnsley lad well into his 50’s’, said “working alongside Thunder has brought me to tears many times and I know I am a better person for it.”
Lily Waterton, Senior Programming Executive at Saatchi Gallery shares: “We are delighted to bring this exhibition to life at the Gallery. It is a natural fit for us given that an unofficial member of the team at the Gallery is Gemma, a retired service dog owned by the Gallery Director. We can’t wait to see the portraits hung in Gallery 4, and to share the stories of the pawticipants with our audiences.”
A Celebration of Dogs with Jobs at Saatchi Gallery, King's Road, London SW3 4RY, will run from until 18th December 2023. Admission is free and pre-booking is not required. For more information on how you can help provide vital support to service dogs and to make a donation online, please click here.
