The Handlers

Meet our Therapy Dog handlers

 

Kim Hepple (Buddy’s Handler)

 Kim

I worked for Hull City Council for ten years as a Sports Development and Community Participation officer. 

Whilst working for Hull Sports Development I worked alongside at risk children and provided them with

role models and activities to divert them from crime and anti social behaviour.

 

Through my work I identified a need to teach respect about all living things.

Many children have pets but often do not understand their feelings and needs.

 

During my time at Hull City Council, I used to take children in the care system to Hull Animal Welfare Trust to walk and play with the rescued dogs. 

The young people learnt many skills and how to socialise with the volunteers.

I realised the effect that animals, especially dogs can have on children.

I have qualifications in First Aid, Canine First Aid, Dog Psychology, Teacher Training, Yoga, Sports Science,

healthy eating, Dementia Awareness and various Hull City Council Training Courses.

I resigned from Hull City Council in April 2010 to concentrate on Pet Respect.

 

Marina Hartley (Jess’s Handler)

 DSCN2694

I have Qualifications in Animal Assisted Therapy and Pet Bereavement Counselling; I have helped run a dog training club in Hull. 

I have completed many courses including dog Psychology, teaching Dog Agility, Flyball, Canine first aid, understanding Autism and Dementia Awareness.

I have worked in various places, Capper Pass, Drewton Kennels, Selles Chemist, Vista Video and volunteering for various charities.

I have always owned collies and have a love for all animals and I enjoy working with people of all ages.

 

In 2002 my mother suffered a severe stroke.  She was paralysed down her left side and found her Physio hard and tiring.

At the time I was fostering a dog called Charlie and I took him to visit my mum.

This was when I saw first-hand the positive effect an animal can have on a person who is not well.

My mum’s mood improved instantly and she forgot her limitations and tried to stroke the dog with her poorly hand. 

 

Therefore I was inspired to become an animal assisted therapist and train and work with my own therapy dog.

Jess was from a litter of eight puppies and I was lucky enough to meet her mum, dad and grandparents.

I chose her because of her temperament within the litter and visited twice a week until she was eight weeks old and then came home to us.

Jess took two years to train and passed her Therapy Dog assessment in 2010.

We have a very special bond and I love her to bits! Now Jess is fully retired she’s enjoying the rest!

Thanks to Pet Respect and Kim, my dream came true as I worked with Jess nearly every day. 

I love our work and have the job satisfaction of watching the positive health effects our dogs have on others, it is well worth our hard work.

 

Sally (Sookie’s Handler)

I have been doing therapy work with Pet Respect alongside her rescue dog, Sookie since 2015.

Since then, I have embarked (pun intended) on her journey to run my own dog training business and continue to work on being the best pet professional I can be.

I pride myself on 3 P’s of training; Passionate, Proactive and Progressive.
Passionate in guiding and educating pet parents how to connect, understand and achieve beautiful new behaviours with their dogs.
Proactive, so to help avoid certain unwanted behaviours which can commonly occur should training not be done earlier on in a dog’s life.

 

This is why I LOVE my puppy/junior dog training and has created courses which have different elements to

your average puppy/junior training classes to start you off on the right paw.
Progressive, not just with regards to progressive training methods (such as fear-free and positive reinforcement)

 

but also providing her clients with the information and support to progress new behaviours

and build stronger relationships which result in a happier dog, pet parent and environment for all.

 

Volunteering at shelters and sanctuaries is highly valuable and rewarding to me and is something I hope to

continue throughout my career to enrich the lives of animals during their stay in sheltered environments.

My previous professional experience consists of being a doggy daycare assistant, dog walker, pet sitter,

dog trainer and dog park supervisor allowing me vital experience working with a vast amount of different people and dogs.

I can proudly say I am a degree qualified dog training instructor as I achieved a

BSc (hons) Applied Animal Behaviour and Training degree in 2020, along with various other courses which I continue to build upon.

I recently became a proud canine professional member of the Pet Professional Guild and promises

to advocate for clients and their dogs by guiding them with kind, empathetic and progressive training.

 

I offer a variety of services in person and online such as pre-dog preparation packages, puppy (8-20 weeks old) and junior (6-12 months old)

6-week training courses, one topic classes (covering a variety of behaviours from loose lead walking to recall),

 

1:1 training tuition for any aged dogs and personalised puppy training 6-week courses which are on a 1:1 basis instead of a class (only for puppies aged 8 weeks to 6 months)

 

 

şevleda / Shev (Daisy’s Handler)

My name is şevleda and I am originally from Turkey, although people call me Shev for short! 

I have lived in England for the last 18 years and I am a Level 3 early years’ practitioner.

I have worked at a Children’s Centre as a nursery nurse for 10 years, I then went on to work in a school nursery.

I have always loved animals and enjoy working with Pet Respect alongside Daisy.

Daisy and Buddy met at East Park have been friends ever since, it’s really nice being part of the team with Pet Respect making a difference in the community.