An adorable six-week-old puppy is being officially sponsored by a Buckinghamshire businessman, as she trains to be a guide dog.
Keith Woolfrey, who runs oven valeting service Ovenu Amersham, is supporting Selsey through her training until she becomes a fully qualified guide dog at around two years of age.
The black Labrador - who has six siblings in Cosmo, Peegee, Dougall, Polly, Jessie, and Billy – was recently placed with a puppy raiser who will start to teach her the essential skills to become a future guide dog.
Keith said: “The past 12 months have been a difficult and challenging time for everyone, not least Guide Dogs, which has experienced a fall in income due to the pandemic.
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“As a business owner I want to give something back by supporting a charity that helps provide life-changing independence and freedom to blind and partially sighted people.
“It’s also a way of saying a huge thank you to my clients who, without their continued support, I would not be in a position to sponsor this cute ball of fluff!”
Selsey the puppy
Keith, who is from Amersham, launched the business in 2019 after spending more than 30 years’ working for a manufacturer of display material, initially as an estimator and more recently as a senior account manager.
Ovenu Amersham, which also covers Chesham, Beaconsfield, Rickmansworth, and surrounding areas, continues to accept bookings at its discretion, with the strict stipulation that both parties observe the two-metre social distancing rule, along with guidelines on hygiene and cleanliness.
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Victoria Noyce-Guthrie of Guide Dogs said: “We rely on donations and Ovenu’s kind support will allow us to make a life changing difference to someone living with sight loss, by providing a guide dog.
“We hope that during these difficult times the news of Selsey being born and the pupdates about her training journey will be something positive to look forward to.”
Keith Woolfrey
Rik Hellewell, the founder and managing director of the Ovenu franchise, said: “I’m delighted that Keith is supporting such a wonderful and deserving charity and I’m sure his clients will be interested to follow Selsey’s progress.”
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