Beccles' The Butcher family who appeared on Channel 4's The Dog House tell of how Cockapoo puppy Percy transformed their lives

It is often said that no family is complete without a dog – and this couldn’t be more true for one Suffolk family, who recently appeared on a hit Channel 4 show.

The Butcher family from Beccles, who recently featured in The Dog House, a show that looks to rehome puppies with families that need them, have spoken about how their ‘perfect match’ transformed their lives.

Craig and Hannah Butcher, 43 and 46, are both deaf and got involved with the show at the behest of their children.

Their sons, Oliver and Felix, 10 and 8, told of how they were kept awake at night over fears the pair’s condition would prevent them from hearing a smoke or fire alarm in case of an emergency, and wanted a dog as a protector.

The show, which was filmed in October 2021 but aired on January 5 of this year as the first episode of the latest season, matched the family with a golden Cockapoo puppy named Percy.

He had been handed over to the Wood Green Animal charity – which works alongside the show’s creators – by his previous owners, who felt they could not look after him due to their lifestyles.

Percy was only 11 weeks old when he was abandoned.

The Butchers said the match was love at first sight, with the dog being a particular comfort to the two boys.

Hannah Butcher said: “He’s a little over a year old now, but it feels like we have had him forever.

“Both Felix and Oliver had their worries and felt responsible for our safety even though they should not have, and Percy's presence seems to have set their minds at ease.

“He’s such a sociable little dog, and makes up a perfect unit alongside our little family and two cats.

“Craig and I both had family dogs growing up, and so we felt it was only fitting we continue this tradition.”

Hannah works for the National Deaf Children’s Society, while Craig is a web developer for Aviva.

The pair met 14 years ago in London and have been married for 13 years.

Oliver is currently undergoing tests for ADHD and autism and exhibits anxiety, for which Percy has helped comfort.

Craig also has both conditions, and finds their little pooch’s presence soothing.

Hannah added: “Percy has changed our lives for the better in many ways.

“For the boys, he provides a sense of security or comfort when they are feeling sad or stressed.

“For my husband and I, we have a renewed purpose to get out and about and his company just enriches us in terms of affection, exercise and just being his lovable self.

“He may be a rescue dog, but in many ways, he rescued us."