“My twin says she's got her sister back.”
Sally, from Cumbria, lives with ME (Myalgic Encephalomyelitis), a long-term neurological condition that causes severe fatigue, pain, and difficulties with mobility and concentration. At her lowest point, she was largely housebound, unable to walk further than 50 metres a day and living an increasingly isolated life.
Today, Sally travels across the country, visiting friends and family, and enjoys the outdoors again – all made possible by her Canine Partners assistance dogs.
A life on hold
Before becoming ill, Sally had a career she loved, supporting young people with complex disabilities, helping prepare them for life beyond school. “It was full of problem-solving and human connection – something I thrived on.”
As her condition worsened, that life slipped away. Her world narrowed to the walls of her home.
I was rarely able to leave the house. Everything took so much energy. My life had a sense of function, but very little joy.
Living alone, Sally spent years managing her condition with very limited support. Even after intensive NHS treatment, her progress stopped. “Seeing people, travelling, even being somewhere noisy could wipe me out for days, so I just stopped.”
Her confidence dropped. She began to struggle with her speech, and days became repetitive and lonely. “I knew things were getting worse and I needed a reason to keep going, but I didn’t know what that could be.”
Finding a way forward
A turning point came when Sally discovered Canine Partners. Being accepted onto the waiting list gave her something to look forward to. “It lit a spark in me. For the first time in a long time, I felt a sense of possibility.”
Determined to be prepared for a future partnership, she focused on building her strength and independence. She got a mobility scooter and used it daily, giving her the freedom to leave the house and explore her local area again. “I spent two years building up my stamina so I could care for a dog. The promise of a Canine Partner helped open up my world, even before I was partnered.”
A new beginning
In 2016, Sally was matched with her first Canine Partner, Dale, an energetic yellow Labrador. “He was a huge barrel of fun.”
Dale helped her with the challenges of daily life with ME – picked up things she dropped, brought the phone and post, helped unload the washing machine. But his real impact went deeper. “Dale gave me a purpose again, bringing structure to my life and a reason to get up and keep going.”
He also changed how Sally experienced the world.
Having him gave people a reason to talk to me. When I struggled to find my words, he gave me a way in.
Over time, her confidence and communication began to improve. “My speech and memory got better too – through a choir I joined and conversations about my dog. It helped me find my words again.”
Sadly, after two years together, Dale became unwell and had to retire. “It was heartbreaking. He’d changed my life in so many ways. The flat felt so quiet and empty without him. I missed everything – the routine, the companionship, even the small things like him reminding me to take my medication.”
Canine Partners helped support Sally until she felt ready to be partnered again.
Rebuilding independence
In 2019, Sally was matched with Dudley, a playful Labrador cross Golden Retriever. “He’s a gentle giant, but still a puppy at heart.”
Dudley enables Sally to live more independently, helping with household tasks, carrying items, even using her card to pay in shops.
More than that, he provides constant companionship.
He’s been there for my happiest days, and right beside me through my lowest moments. When I broke my wrist in the night, he jumped onto the bed and stayed with me while I waited for help.
With Dudley by her side, Sally now does things she once thought impossible. She now travels across the country by train to visit friends and family, navigating busy stations with confidence. “If I feel overwhelmed, I focus on him and we find our way.”
She has also rediscovered her love of the outdoors. “For years, nature was something I could only look at through a window. Now I’m back out in it.”
Dudley helps Sally manage her condition on her own terms. “When I need to rest, he rests. I have the confidence to listen to my body now, without feeling like I have to keep up with anyone else.”
Her relationships have transformed too.
I can chat, smile and laugh again. My twin says she’s got her sister back.
“He’s my lifeline”
Sally’s ME hasn’t gone away. Some days are still harder than others. But today, she is living a life that once felt out of reach. “Dudley means the world to me. He’s my lifeline, my companion and my connection to the world.
He’s helped me find joy again in ways I didn’t think were possible. He reminds me to live in the moment and to take opportunities when they come.
Without Dale and Dudley, my world would be much smaller. I wouldn’t have the confidence or independence I have now. I’d still be a shadow of who I used to be. Canine Partners gave me my life back.