The sound of silence

Kennny the Dog with Oldham Choral Society

THE latest member of Oldham Choral Society is its most unusual recruit yet — being the only one to never make a sound.

For the choral member is a German Shepherd cross called Kenny who is undergoing training for the Guide Dogs Association — and therefore learning to stay silent amid noise, no matter how harmonious.

The loveable hound arrives at rehearsals with his walker and sits quietly on his blanket as 130 people sing all around him.

The reason for his regular attendance is to get him used to all kinds of environments and sounds.

Guide dogs will go, with their owners, into all kinds of situations and the dog has to be able to cope with them all.

There are blind members in several choral societies in the UK who bring their dogs to rehearsal.

Puppy training starts at about six weeks and the Guide Dog Association provides volunteer walkers with basic equipment and pay for vets bills and food.

The puppies are taught basic skills. which are extended as it grows older. At the age of 12 to 14 months, Guide Dog training will begin.

The choir has just finished rehearsing Bach’s ‘St Matthew Passion’, which members will perform next Sunday, Palm Sunday, at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester.

Tickets for the performance, starting at 7pm, are available for £14, or £5 RNCM student concession and £1 for schoolchildren under 16. The OCS box office is 01457-875221, or RNCM box office at 0161 907 5555.

Volunteer puppy walkers are always in demand. To find out more, go to www.guidedogs.org.

The full version of this story is in tonight’s Chronicle and in the eChron and iChron electronic editions.