Calling all doggy fans and puppy lovers – this one’s for you! An adorable new exhibition has opened at the Saatchi Gallery, highlighting the hard work that some of our fluffy pals put in. ‘A Celebration of Dogs With Jobs’ is the result of a collaboration between RANKIN and The Kennel Club Charitable Trust. The photos range across ten different types of service dogs and feature “some of the UK’s most inspiring service dogs.”
The exhibition opened on December 10 and will run through to December 18. It’s completely free to check out, and there’s no need to pre-book tickets or spaces. Just head on over and walk in to see the photos.
Visitors can make donations to The Kennel Club Charitable Trust at donation points found at the exhibition. These funds will go towards supporting The Kennel Club’s work with organisations such as Dogs for Good, Support Dogs, Medical Detection Dogs, and other small charities. Through this, they’re able to sponsor dogs “to become specially trained companions to adults and children coping with a range of medical problems or disabilities”. The work thus extends far beyond just the dogs. It also transforms the lives of the people they help – whose services they rely on.
Dogs with Jobs
Among the furry friends celebrated in the Dogs with Jobs exhibition are those working as assistance dogs, therapy dogs, guide dogs, and more. The dogs are photographed with their handlers and range from Albert, a black Labrador who provides chronic pain support, to Tilly, a Chihuahua x Jack Russell Terrier mix who works as an emotional support animal.
Some of the featured dogs have faced difficulty in their own lives and now bring new light into the lives of many around them. Tilly, for example, was dumped in a plastic washing basket and left on a roundabout at four weeks old. Now she brightens up the day of care home residents when she visits. In fact, her handler Emily even credits Tilly with saving her life.
Said the photographer, RANKIN:
“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”.
You can find out more, or make an online donation to The Kennel Club Charitable Trust, here. Act fast, because the exhibition ends on December 18, 2023.
📍 ‘A Celebration of Dogs with Jobs’ can be seen at Saatchi Gallery, King’s Road, SW3 4RY. The nearest station is Sloane Square.
