Categories: Corporate supporters

Corporate supporters

A big thank you to the Canny Company

canny_girlsAnd the gift is extra special this time because the sets are in Canny’s new colour option of Canine Partners’ purple!

The Canny collar is both a dog walking collar and training device. With a Canny collar, even the most powerful pullers soon learn to walk well on a loose lead, making the experience of being out with your dog more enjoyable and comfortable for both of you.

In the Canine Partners community, Canny collars and leads are used by both our trainers and our partners.

Trust and Corporate Manager Cat Harvey said: “We are extremely grateful for this donation of equipment to the Charity.  Having the canny lead and collar in our charity colour is a really special way for the company to show their support.”

Find out more about Canny Company on their website.

 

Chris Robshaw supports us in his Testimonial Year

site_imagery_AndrewFields_emilyandDoyle_withChrisTo celebrate the England player’s achievements ten years on from his debut for Harlequins he has chosen our charity alongside Teenage Cancer Trust and Walking with the Wounded to benefit from a series of events he will hold in 2016, as well as giving back to the rugby community.

Chris, 29, who went to Millfield School, said: “I have chosen to support Canine Partners due to seeing first-hand the exceptional benefits dogs have upon people in need. The ability these dogs have in developing their partner’s quality of life is outstanding and I am honoured that the Chris Robshaw Testimonial Committee will be able to support the Charity.”

The rugby player, who has played 67 tests for England, launched his Testimonial Year with an event at Coutts Bank in London where he described his plans for the year and had a question and answer session in front of an invited audience.

Chris and a selected committee have planned events throughout 2016, including a dinner in Twickenham Changing Rooms, a golf day at Goodwood, a clay shoot at the West Wycombe Estate, a Festival of Rugby, a touch rugby series across London and a gala dinner at The Roundhouse in London, to raise awareness and funds for his chosen beneficiaries.

The money Chris will fundraise for us will transform the lives of more people with physical disabilities like Andrew Fields who attended the launch evening and met Chris himself. Former Hooker Andrew played rugby internationally for four years for England Under 18-21s in his youth and became an incomplete tetraplegic after a motorbike accident in 2001. Andrew is now the Head Coach of Winchester Rugby Football Club’s men’s team, as well as a P.E. teacher in Basingstoke.

Andrew, who also went to Millfield School, said: “I was 31-years old when the incident happened and I broke my neck. Now, I can walk with a stick but I use a wheelchair most of the time. I used to own a gym and was very active so it has changed everything.

“I was matched with canine partner Emily in 2008 and since then she has given me much more confidence and she is a talking point as people want to know all about her life as a canine partner. Emily’s best skill is removing socks, hats and gloves which is particularly useful during the rugby season. This is a tedious activity that becomes fun when she is involved. She makes me happy, entertains me and is a huge part of our family.”

To find out more about Chris’s testimonial year visit www.testimonial.chrisrobshaw.com.

A big thank you to Jacquie Lawson for launching a Canine Partners e-Christmas card

The ‘Top Hats and Tails’ festive e-card features two dogs and a robin dressing a snowman to the tune of We Wish You a Merry Christmas, very apt for our charity which trains their dogs to dress and undress their disabled partners!

The e-card is available for subscribers to purchase and send to their friends, family and colleagues to enjoy. For more information visit www.jacquielawson.com or view ‘Top Hats and Tails’ here.

Meet our celebrity friends and supporters

National Express meet their puppy Goldie

In addition to having one of their coaches bedecked in Canine Partners livery, the company have been fundraising by asking customers to donate an extra pound when they book a trip online.  Their efforts have raised enough money to fund the training of golden retriever Goldie, who showed off her skills to Roz and Paul from the company.  Demo dog Rio then stepped in to complete a full demonstration for the visitors, who went away duly impressed and proud of their sponsor dog, who will be joining the ranks of life-changing canine partners for someone with a disability.

The Haberdashers’ Company makes major donation

The Worshipful Company of Haberdashers is one of the 12 senior Livery Companies of the City of London. It received its Royal Charter in 1448, although records date back to 1371, and it was originally responsible for the regulation of cloth merchants.

The Haberdashers have a long history of charitable support and we are extremely grateful for this amazing donation, which will truly make a difference to the lives of people on our waiting lists.

Pups visit Pets Corner Brighton Racecourse to say thank you!

New Pets Corner LogoThe Brighton store collected the highest number of donations during the campaign so Kingston, Sandos and tiny pup Veyron visited the store with their puppy parents to say thank you. They even managed to get some training in too!

Thank you very much to all of the Pets Corner stores for taking part in the campaign and raising an incredible £10,000 in celebration of our 25th Anniversary.

For further information about Pets Corner visit www.petscorner.co.uk.

Purina volunteers help out for a day

PurinaAs part of Purina’s ongoing support for the Charity, staff are given time out of the office to volunteer for a day. Three members of staff from Purina’s Gatwick offices arrived bright and early at Canine Partners’ rural training centre where they were soon helping out by welcoming over 100 visitors attending one of the Charity’s regular Open Days. The visitors were given a demonstration of the skills and training of a canine partner and they also heard from someone with a canine partner who told them how much of a difference their dog has made to their quality of life.

The mammoth job of helping to fulfil a large puppy sponsorship mail-out was next on the agenda. Special packs had to be assembled with a variety of components to be sent out to the Charity’s regular givers who each ‘adopt’ a puppy for £52 a year. Canine Partners fulfils these large mailings in-house, which is very time-consuming, so having volunteers help to take on this responsibility not only helps Canine Partners to bring in more valuable funding for training dogs, but also gives the staff more time to work on attracting new supporters.

After a quick lunch, the Purina volunteers moved onto the fun task of making up special packs that the new partners get to take with them when they first go home with their dog after completing the residential course. Canine Partners has been very fortunate to receive a large donation of brand new dog toys, beds and training aids from a large national retailer. Every partnership now takes home a range of products for everything from feeding their dog to playing with them indoors and out. The volunteers worked tirelessly to assemble packs for over 40 people to take home.

Purina volunteers were given the chance to see behind the scenes on a busy working day at our Southern Centre. They made a valuable contribution to the ongoing requirements to keep raising awareness and support for this valuable work training dogs for people with physical disabilities.

A great day’s work for all.

For further information about Purina UK, visit www.purina.co.uk.

Kew Electrical gets a visit from their sponsored dogs

Kerly (pictured on the left) and Kingston (right) visited their sponsors Kew Electrical so the staff could meet them and see how well they are doing.

Kerly, a bernese mountain dog cross golden retriever, has completed his training and he will be helping the Canine Partners’ Demonstration Team, representing the Charity and meeting and greeting the public at various events. Kingston, a black labrador, is still training.

Trusts and Corporate Manager Cat Harvey said Kew Electrical has been supporting Canine Partners since 2007.

“We are so grateful for the ongoing and loyal support we have received from Kew Electrical. They have helped so much by funding the training for several dogs and we really enjoy going to visit them all at their offices so they can see the results of their fundraising.”

Thank you Kew Electrical!