“Juniper was always by my side, helping me through one of the toughest times of my life.”
Kate felt her life was falling apart after a relationship breakdown left her homeless. Living with a painful neurological condition and using a wheelchair, she was already facing daily challenges. Despite the uncertainty ahead, including periods of temporary accommodation and unexpected veterinary bills, her Canine Partner, Juniper remained by her side.
Discovering Canine Partners
After seeing Canine Partners featured on television, Kate applied and was partnered with Scully, a black Labrador. She quickly discovered the difference an assistance dog could make to her independence and everyday life.
“Before I had an assistance dog, life was a lot harder and I relied on other people much more. If I dropped something, I couldn’t just pick it up. Scully helped with everyday tasks, and that has made a huge difference to my independence.”
Meeting Juniper
When the time came for Scully to retire, Canine Partners supported Kate by partnering her with Juniper, her next assistance dog.
After travelling from Newcastle to West Sussex to meet Juniper for the first time, Kate knew straight away there was something special about her new Canine Partner.
“It was love at first sight. Juniper was just so happy, with her ears flapping, and they still flap to this day!”
The pair completed two weeks of training together at Canine Partners’ Partnership Placement Course and it quickly became clear they were a perfect match. “She was just the best dog on the course. Literally the best dog. She’s matched perfectly to my needs because I’m a bit quirky and she’s a bit quirky, and it works really, really well.”
Life with Juniper
Juniper now supports Kate with practical, everyday tasks, including getting undressed, picking items up from the floor, and helping her turn over in bed.
These everyday tasks give Kate greater independence, allowing her to do things in her own time without having to rely on others.
“The difference Juniper makes is life-changing. She knows when I’m going to have an episode of passing out and will alert me before it happens!
“She can also get a medical equipment bag, ‘bag get it’, which has a range of stoma supplies, inhalers and other medications. Juniper loves any task, and she is always ready to work, you can feel her excitement when her jacket comes out.”
Her wet nose and waggy tail always makes my day brighter. I can’t imagine life without her.
Support through homelessness
Following the breakdown of a relationship, Kate found herself facing homelessness and spent 14 months living in temporary accommodation. It was an incredibly uncertain and challenging time, but throughout it all, Juniper remained a constant source of comfort, companionship and practical support.
“Life before becoming homeless was tough for quite a while, but Juniper was always by my side. She was an excellent support and just fitted right into that background.”
At first, Juniper was fostered by a Canine Partners volunteer while Kate waited to find out where she would be living. There was so much uncertainty about what would happen next, and Kate didn’t know where she would be placed until the night she was accepted as homeless, arriving after 9pm.
Thankfully, it wasn’t long before Juniper was able to join her.
“Being apart from Juniper was horrible. But we quickly realised the accommodation was totally fine and totally safe, and she came to join me.”
Vital financial support
At the time, Kate was relying on disability benefits and had little other support in place. The cost of temporary accommodation was also far higher than many people realise.
Canine Partners’ Financial Assistance Fund became a lifeline when Juniper became unwell while they were living in temporary accommodation.
Veterinary bills quickly ran into thousands of pounds, but the Fund provided three months of emergency cover, taking care of all dog welfare-related costs including food, insurance, vet costs, supplements and preventive care.
The Financial Assistance Fund gave Kate one less thing to worry about during an incredibly uncertain time. It meant she could focus on rebuilding her life, knowing Juniper was getting the care she needed. Today, Juniper is back to full health and by her side every day.
The difference support can make
Today, Kate can’t imagine life without Juniper. More than an assistance dog, she’s a trusted partner, a constant companion and a much-loved member of the family.
Thanks to the support of Canine Partners and the Financial Assistance Fund, Kate and Juniper were able to get through one of the toughest periods of their lives together, and Kate didn’t have to face it alone.
The financial assistance support was really essential. Other than my disability benefits, I didn’t have other benefits in place when I moved into temporary accommodation. People think temporary accommodation is free, but it’s not. Rent is higher than it would be paying a mortgage on a house.