British Star Pam St. Clement Launches Pawprints Appeal (video)

After a quarter of a century on the same soap opera, actress Pam St. Clement’s role on the popular British series EastEnders may be coming to a close at the end of 2011, but her real life role as an animal advocate continues.

Although her childhood dream to become a veterinarian was replaced when she was bitten by the acting bug, a love of animals has always played a prominent part in the life of the TV star. Over the course of her career the actress has held the position of Vice President of her local RSPCA, shown her support for The People’s Dispensary for Sick Animals (the leading veterinary charity in the United Kingdom) and now her star wattage is shining a spotlight on Hearing Dogs for Deaf People.

Launched in 1982, the national charity– which offers independence and companionship for those with hearing loss through their bond with a barking buddy– hopes to add to their team of trained service dogs thanks to Pam St. Clement’s Pawprints Appeal campaign.

The celebrity ambassador for the organization states: “There’s an urgent need for funds to enable Hearing Dogs to increase the number of dogs that it trains each year. As well as new applicants, there are currently around 40 deaf people on our waiting list whose dogs have retired or passed away. We want to ensure that more trained dogs are ready to step into the pawprints of the predecessors so that we can reduce the length of this difficult waiting period.”

In the following video the TV star chats with Linda Duckling, who suffered the loss of both her dear friend and devoted helper when her service dog Rascal– a rescue from Battersea Dogs and Cats Home– passed away. The pain that resonates in her voice months after the Parson’s Jack Russell Terrier’s departure for Rainbow Bridge is a poignant testament to the strong connection between canine caregivers and those they love.

For more information regarding the Pawprints Appeal:

• visit www.hearingdogs.org.uk

Filmed shortly before Rascal’s death in 2010, it is easy to understand why Pam St. Clement– a judge at last year’s Hearing Dogs for Deaf People awards– chose the tiny tiny-wagger as the winner in the Rescue Hero Dog of the Year category:

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