Fifteen-year-old Mikey Perryman, from Bristol, is getting ready to be centre stage at the world’s greatest dog show Crufts, next month.
Mikey, is being awarded the Cinnamon Trust Young Volunteer of the Year Award. The teenager has spent two years dedicating his spare time after school and at weekends to walking Max, a Border Terrier owned by 90 year old Phyllis Nelson.
Thanks to Mikey’s help, Phyllis has been able to keep her dog, as Mikey has given Max the exercise that sometimes Phyllis may not have been able to provide.
Speaking about why she decided to nominate Mikey for the award, Phyllis said: “Mikey loves animals so much and by walking Max he has helped me out so much. Even on a wet day when Max will not go out on a walk he will still come round to play ball games and hide and seek in the house. He is a lovely lad, I am glad that he has won the award, he thoroughly deserves it.”
Mikey will receive the prestigious Young Volunteer of the Year trophy at Crufts on Saturday 8th March at 11.30am in the Young Kennel Club ring.
Mrs Averil Jarvis, Founder and Chief Executive of the Cinnamon Trust, said “Mikey is devoted to walking Max. His level of reliability and commitment is amazing. He is very conscientious of Max’s exercise routine.
“Max absolutely hates walking in the rain but that never stops Mikey from finding other ways to exercise him. He will find imaginative ways of keeping Max fit, which I think is remarkable for a teenage boy. What Mikey does is absolutely vital for Phyllis, as she wouldn’t have been able to maintain the amount of walking that Max needs. For that reason alone he is a well worthy winner”
In conjunction with the Young Kennel Club, the Cinnamon Trust scheme encourages young people who love dogs to help frail, older people who also love dogs but are unable to fully care for their canine companion themselves. It’s a win-win-win situation - the dog wins as they get a fun walk and stay healthy, the owner wins as they get peace of mind with a happy dog, and the young volunteer wins as they make new friends and gain a great sense of pride.
