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National assistance dog charity, Canine Partners, has been transforming the lives of people living with physical disabilities across the UK for 30 years.

The charity trains assistance dogs, known as canine partners, to help with everyday tasks such as opening and closing doors, unloading the washing machine, getting dressed and undressed, picking up dropped items, and pressing buttons and switches. They can even get help in an emergency. These life-changing dogs also provide psychological and social benefits to their owners, including increased independence, confidence, social interaction and self-esteem.

The dogs undertake a specialist two-year training programme with the charity, which begins from selection at around eight weeks old. They then spend 14 months in puppy training with a volunteer in their home, followed by four months of advanced training at one of the charity’s two training centres, before they are matched with someone on the waiting list. All stages of training are fun and reward-based for the dogs, and their training is tailored to meet the needs of their future owners.

Supporting Canine Partners in their 30th anniversary year will help to open the doors to more people in need, and together we will enable more people living with physical disabilities to have greater independence.

I’m thrilled to have this opportunity to tell you more about Canine Partners in their 30th anniversary year, and to invite you to support them as they continue to transform the lives of people living with physical disabilities across the UK.

A significant number of adults with a physical disability would benefit from a canine partner assistance dog trained by charity Canine Partners. These incredible animals provide much more to their partners than purely practical support; they are instrumental in enhancing their mental and emotional wellbeing by giving them they freedom and independence most of us enjoy every day.

This is such a great cause – please watch the appeal and support them in any way you can.

Jackie started showing symptoms of Multiple Sclerosis, a degenerative condition that can affect the brain and spinal cord, at just 22 years old and has been a wheelchair user for over 25 years. Jackie needed support from her husband in undertaking even the smallest of tasks and her independence was heavily impacted. In 2015, her life was transformed when she was partnered with canine partner Babs, a chocolate Labrador. Babs can help Jackie get undressed, will fetch her shoes and slippers, and will open doors and drawers. She’ll even help Jackie to get the washing out of the washing machine and to get the milk out of the fridge. Babs became even more vital to Jackie’s independence when her husband passed away in 2017, enabling Jackie to continue to live independently with her canine partner by her side.

Jamie has Cerebral Palsy, a neurological condition that means he has very little use of his left arm and leg. Before having a canine partner, Jamie had to wait for family and friends to do small tasks around the house for him when they visited as he was unable to himself. Jamie’s life was transformed in 2018 when he was partnered with canine partner Whisper, a black Labrador Golden Retriever cross.

As a result of Jamie’s condition degenerating, he had to have his left arm amputated, so Canine Partners tailored Whisper’s training to suit Jamie’s need for items to be brought to his right-hand side. Whisper can help James to remove his coat, fetch his slippers or shoes, and can open and close doors. Having Whisper means that James can live independently, as not only can Whisper help him with these everyday tasks, but he can also fetch the phone in an emergency so that Jamie can call for help.

Ian has Myotonic Dystrophy and is currently waiting to be matched with an amazing assistance dog through Canine Partners.  Ian’s condition is genetic and progressive, meaning his muscle function continues to deteriorate over time and other members of his family have the same condition. He was once very active but now needs to use a walking aid in his own home and uses an electric powered wheelchair when he goes outside. Ian lives alone and would benefit greatly from having a canine partner to help him around the house with daily tasks such as picking up dropped items, opening doors and fetching things for him. Having a canine partner would enable Ian to live more independently and it would mean that he would no longer need to wait for a carer to come in to do even the smallest of tasks.