Paul was partnered with canine partner Ralph in October 2016. This is his story:

I was an ordinary 20-year-old lad enjoying my life and working in my dream job with a kitchen fitting company. I had a long-term girlfriend and a wide range of friends.

On the 10^th November 2012 my life changed forever. I was driving my new car late at night when I crashed and broke my neck. I spent two long months in intensive care, fighting for my life. When my family spoke to the doctors they were told I have a high-level spinal cord injury and would be paralysed from my neck down.

Once I was finally well enough to be moved out of intensive care I spent another seven months in the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital in Stanmore getting specialist care and learning how to live with my injuries. I was taken off heavy medication and was beginning to learn to breathe without a ventilator when I started to get movement back in my left arm. Eventually, after a lot of physiotherapy, occupational therapy and hard work I was able to move both my other arm, but I cannot use my hands. However, with good control of my left wrist, I have learnt to use my finger and thumb to pick up small objects and use a splint on my index finger to type on a phone or tablet. I now need 24 hour support from carers.

I also suffered severe depression due to the accident and life changes. The matron of the ward allowed my family’s two pet dogs to come into the side room to see me in order to help my low mood. Our cockapoo would sit on my bed so I could stroke him. This would always brighten up my day. Some months later, on my 21^st birthday in July 2013, I was discharged.

My life is now completely different. I now need 24-hour support from carers and have previously suffered from severe depression due to the accident.  I continued living with my parents whilst I got used to my new life, but I very quickly got bored as all my friends and family worked while I had nothing.

A year after coming home, I went on a multi-activities course in the Lake District with a charity that supports people with spinal injuries. During this course I was shown that my life wasn’t over, as I once thought and there is still plenty I can do. I began volunteering, sailing, swimming and I also got a membership to watch Arsenal football matches. While at a football match I saw someone go past in a wheelchair with an assistance dog, which inspired me to do some research.

Visiting the Canine Partners website I read a partnership story about someone with a spinal cord injury and it was the motivation I needed to apply.

At an assessment day a few weeks later, I had a fantastic time meeting lots of different dogs and it convinced me even more that I would benefit from having one.  The team at Canine Partners worked hard to find the right match and when Ralph and I were introduced 18 months later there was an instant connection and I knew he was the dog for me.

Ralph is great fun to have around and he keeps me motivated. We practice tasks on daily basis and he made an immediate impact on my life. He presses an alarm that calls the carer if I need of help and can’t call them myself.

He picks things up and gives them to me like my phone and finger splint. He takes my jacket off and my gloves in the winter and he helps remove my blankets if I get too hot at night. He also opens and closes doors for me on a daily basis and he sometimes presses the controller to my electronic assistive technology for me, turning on or off lights, fans, heaters and my TV and also helping me phone people if I need to. He can also get the post, he can find the TV controls or my wallet and he can press the button at traffic lights.

Now, I’m 27-years-old and I am pleased to be finally living an independent life again by living in my own flat since September 2017.

The location and the fact I have Ralph means I am able to go out and about completely on my own, including to the doctors and hospital appointments. We also have a massive field just a few minutes away, so in the summer I spend a lot of time there with him.

Having Ralph by my side has not only made me more independent, he has made me a lot healthier. Since having Ralph I am no longer anxious or in and out of hospital constantly. I don’t know if it’s the fresh air I’m getting or the fact I now have a purpose in life and someone else to worry about.

My name is Rebecca, I’m 27 years old and I have Cerebral Palsy. I’m a full time wheelchair user and my disability affects the use of all of my limbs, which means I need a high level of personal care with day-to-day tasks.

My attitude is that my disability is part of me and I’m certainly not ashamed of it, but it has created a lot of barriers in my life, and I’m significantly reliant upon physical help. I’m not the type of person who will sit and watch the world go by, I’ve always wanted to participate, but my ability to do this has certainly been restricted by my condition.

I had a really difficult time for many years because of my disability. I faced verbal abuse and I was bullied when I was younger. I always felt as if the world didn’t understand that my disability was a purely physical one, and I faced a lot of judgement about what my capability level was. This judgement had a huge impact on my self-esteem. Although I was someone with dreams and aspirations, the world still just saw me as someone in a wheelchair.

Life was incredibly painful, and I say that as someone who always tries to look at the positives. It’s not an exaggeration to say that I hated life for a long time, and the most powerful thing I can say is that Gregg has turned that around completely.

Life was transformed for Rebecca when she was partnered with Gregg in 2018.

I first found out about Canine Partners through a talk that they did at my college, telling us all about the charity and the things that their dogs can do. I have always loved dogs and had always wanted one. When I heard that I could get a dog and have one that could support me on a day-to-day basis, I was itching to get one!

When I met Gregg for the first time I was so excited because I’m a sucker for a Labrador X Retriever cross! He came to say hello and gave me a big kiss on the face straight away and I knew that he would be great for me. He’s just the right amount of clever, loving and goofy and I really believe we are the perfect match.

Gregg is there for me every morning to help me get out of bed and get dressed, and then he will go and get help from my carers. I’m so clumsy and I drop things all the time. Whenever I drop my makeup brushes (which happens a lot!) he’s always there to pick them up, wagging his tail the whole time. He helps me load the washing machine, he’ll take the recycling out and put it in the right bin and help me get things out of the fridge. He’s so helpful when I go shopping and he’ll drop everything into the trolley for me. Everyone says that Gregg wants to save the planet because he loves putting things in the bin for me when I tell him to!

It’s hard to explain just how much of a difference he’s had on me by helping me do these everyday things that most people wouldn’t think twice about. He’s given me so much more independence and the chance to take charge of my own life and I’m so grateful for that. All of these small things seemed like a barrier to me before, but I don’t see those barriers now that I have Gregg in my life. He makes me feel like everything is possible now we can take life on together.

Rebecca’s partnership with Gregg has not only impacted her life, but the lives’ of her family, too.

Before I was partnered with Gregg I had just moved into my own house. My mum would worry about me being on my own and about whether I was getting the right care. Having Gregg has changed my relationships with my family because I have been given such independence and happiness, and they don’t worry about me like they did before because they know Gregg is with me.

“We have seen such a massive difference in Bec since she’s been with Gregg, it really is night and day. It’s so nice to see Bec and talk to her about the amazing things that she’s been doing and not just about difficulties she’d been having” said Rebecca’s Mum, Kathryn.

“He has such an impact on her mood every day and he’s also had such an impact on our whole family. We all love seeing them together and knowing that she’s safe with him. The reliance on myself and the rest of the family has completely changed because now we know that Bec can be left alone for a while if her carers aren’t there, safe in the knowledge that Gregg is with her.”

Rebecca’s confidence and self-esteem went to new heights with the freedom that having a canine partner gave her.

The physical tasks that Gregg helps me with only tell part of the story of how he has changed my life. Before I had him, I was very lonely and very much felt isolated from other people and from society generally. I didn’t have any friends and felt as if I was trapped in this world where people couldn’t see that I was Bec and that I’m a funny (well, I think I am!) and sociable person, and that I have a life to live. They would just assume that because I was in a wheelchair that I wasn’t capable of anything.

Suddenly, people would see me walking along with Gregg, they would come over and speak to me, whereas before, people wouldn’t know what to say to me. Now, people see beyond my disability. To me, my disability is just a small part of me, and the most boring part of me! People see this gorgeous dog and they want to come over and talk to me. Gregg has broken down so many of those barriers and I don’t feel as isolated from society anymore.

I have my own flat, with a full time care team there for support. My life has changed so much that I feel a lot more independent now, almost like I do live alone. Gregg has changed the way that I look at life, and has allowed me to push for more independence, to push for more choice and control over my life. I never wanted my life to be defined by my disability, or live a sheltered life because of it. Since Gregg has opened my life up, he has given me the strength to fight for what I want.

My self-esteem is unrecognisable from what it was before, and I feel much more comfortable speaking my mind about what I need. He’s not just a dog who has come along and helped me out physically, he’s had such an integral part in my growth and how I feel about myself. I’ve taken risks in my life since Gregg that I would never have done before, because I would’ve been scared about what could go wrong. Now that I know he’s going to be there no matter what, it doesn’t seem so scary.

With Gregg’s support, Rebecca’s social and professional life has flourished.

I’ve taken the massive step of starting my own business since having Gregg, which would never have seemed like a possibility before having him. I perform talks to care companies and share my own experiences of being cared for, talking about why it is so important for people to have choice and control in these situations, regardless of their disability. Gregg has allowed me to educate people about how to see disabled people differently and challenge some misconceptions that still sadly exist.

I’m incredibly proud of myself for taking this step, and it is something that I couldn’t have imagined myself doing before having a canine partner. Although the physical tasks that Gregg can do for me are so important, I see the benefits of having him as so much more profound than that. He’s given my life a totally different meaning and allowed me to go and do something that I’m so passionate about.

Despite this, I’m also someone that doesn’t like to take life too seriously, I like to do spontaneous things and Gregg has allowed me to live this way. I have no idea what my life will look like in 2 or 3 years’ time, but that’s fine with me, because I know that so many possibilities have opened up since I’ve had Gregg. Now I go out for dinner, go to shows, I went to Crufts in 2019 and I would never have gone before I had Gregg. It really has opened up my life. Friendships have happened organically now, because people see who I really am instead of my disability.

I would love to see my business take off even more in the future, and I have plans to go on holidays and see the world. Before, I couldn’t have dreamt of any of these things. Now, I think my life is average but in a beautiful way, because all I ever wanted was a “normal” life. My mind-set has changed so much that I don’t see barriers anymore, I just see opportunities. I see my life going from strength to strength now that I have Gregg. There’s even a group that help disabled people go up mountains – who could’ve imagined that would be a possibility for me. I feel so at peace with my life now that it feels that things are coming my way naturally. That is such a wonderful feeling after going through such hard times earlier in my life. Everything has changed for me because I have changed as a person. I don’t think about things or agonise about things anymore, I’ll just go out and do it.

My name is Aimee and I have Cerebral Palsy. It affects my mobility in my legs and the right side of body. I was born 11 weeks early at 29 weeks, weighing a tiny 2.11 lbs.

My disability is mainly physical but my life became very isolated and lonely. I went to college but found it incredibly hard. People ignored me and wouldn’t talk to me. As a result, I ended up with anxiety, depression, and on medication for a long time.

I felt as if no one could understand me and who I was. At college people would ask how I can do an A Level 3 course and I would say ‘I can because my mind still works, it’s my legs that don’t’. It was really tough and I found it incredibly hard to settle and be included.

I was lonely and didn’t feel like I had a life. I felt as if it wasn’t worth me being here, but since being partnered with Jordan my life has completely changed.

Jordan helps me with so many things on a day-to-day basis. He can open and close doors for me, he can help me unload the washing machine, and he even fetches my slippers. I can go out on my own now, so I take him to the park, to restaurants and the supermarket.

We went on holiday last year to Jersey with some other partners from Canine Partners, something I would never have done before I had Jordan. I have recently started a new voluntary job supporting people with drug and alcohol misuse. I am so grateful for Jordan as without him I wouldn’t be able to do this role and help others. He’s also very popular with all the staff and volunteers!

I’m a lot happier now, even though my pain is bad some days, I feel like I can cope because Jordan is part of my life and I have to get out of bed for him.

He’s given me a great deal of independence and a much better life in general. He’s also given a better life for my mum and dad, as I can go out and do things without them and they know that Jordan’s there to help me. They don’t have to worry as much and he has given me a purpose again. I’m really happy and positive now and I feel like my life has completely changed.

My dad was quite sceptical when I applied for a canine partner. He thought of Jordan as just a dog, but I told him it’s so much more than that, and over the last two years he’s seen how having Jordan by my side has changed everything for me. He has made my life so much easier, as well as so much happier.

I now have a voluntary role that I love and I would never have done it without Jordan by my side. I hope I can get a job and show people that you can work with a disability and manage independently, and to show people how much Jordan can help me. He doesn’t care if I’m in pain or can’t move very well, because he is happy to help me, because to him it is all about playing a game and having fun.

I love him so much, more than the world and I would do anything for him. Thank you so much to Canine Partners for everything, I can’t imagine life without him, at all!

Fiona Airey was diagnosed with Ehlers Danlos Syndrome in 2010. Fiona, who is a primary school teacher, saw her confidence diminished by the vulnerable position that her condition put her in.

Fiona, who lives in Essex, said: “By 2001 I had started my career in teaching and I was very nervous about walking around school where I worked as a teacher, or anywhere with lots of people out of fear of being bumped and hurt. I would walk next to a wall or with someone, like my sister, next to me as I was so concerned my shoulder would dislocate if it was knocked. The pain levels were huge and the world just became smaller and smaller.”

Fiona encountered difficulties in both her personal and professional life, due to a lack of understanding of the condition: “My previous workplace didn’t understand or implement the adaptations they needed to make for me, so I felt as though everything I had worked hard for in my life, and my career, were at risk. I am exceptionally stubborn and I felt as though asking for help was weak. I felt isolated and there wasn’t a lot of compassion, which was very sad.”

Fiona’s life and career changed when she was partnered with assistance dog Verlin, provided by Canine Partners, in 2014.

Fiona said: “On the day I got ‘the phone call’ to say I had been matched with a dog, I was at school in a class and had just had a really tough day. The call came and they said ‘we think we’ve got a dog for you’ – every single stress of the day just disappeared. My colleague, Siobhan, said I was almost jumping up and down with excitement! That’s when my canine partner, Verlin, came into my life.”

“When she first came back to work with her new canine partner, Verlin, I was watching him working and realised the impact that he would have on Fiona.” Said Siobhan, Fiona’s colleague. “You could see how much he enjoyed helping her, as well as the respect the children had for what he was doing too – they immediately learnt so much from watching him.”

Having canine partner Verlin has given Fiona the confidence and freedom to pursue new adventures with the safety of her canine companion by her side.

“He just opened everything back out for me. It wasn’t just the obvious things like picking up items I dropped or opening doors and filling the washing machine, as all of those things were on the tick list of tasks I knew he would do.” said Fiona. “It was all the things I didn’t expect, like the confidence that came back to me and the ability for me to see a future. I had the confidence for my career to take off, to be in a classroom, and to be around people because Verlin was there.”

Fiona’s friends and family, including her sister Karen, have been able to see the huge impact that having Verlin has had on her life, as well as on the relationships most important to her.

Karen said: “Being partnered with canine partner Verlin has made a huge difference to Fiona’s life. She’ll go out and she’s totally

self-sufficient. On a personal level, Fiona and I can go out as sisters. We like to go to London to the theatre and other things people take for granted, but Fiona and I can now go and do it because she feels more protected in large crowds by having Verlin with her.”

Since being partnered with Verlin, Fiona has seen her career as a Deputy Head teacher go from strength to strength.

Fiona said: “I have always been stubbornly independent and I think that was why the darkness of my physical condition was so huge. Now my independence is back there are no barriers to what I want to do in life or in my career, whereas before I had Verlin I didn’t think I’d be able to teach anymore.”

Having Verlin has also offered Fiona the opportunity to teach her students that everyone has the ability to go on and reach their goals.

“Since having Verlin and being at my current school, they see me as just me. They see the professional that I am and that I happen to come with an assistance dog who enables me to do my job. It shows everyone at the school, whether it’s a child, a parent or a colleague, that everyone can do what they want to do but there might have to be an adaptation in order for them to do it. That’s a huge part of our education – enabling everyone to do what they want to do and to completely fulfil their absolute future potential. There is the role Verlin has for me in enhancing my life, the role he has at school, which enhances school life, and there is the role he has out in society as an ambassador for people who need adaptations to be the most able person they are.”

Lenny, who has worked alongside Fiona as Head Teacher for over two and a half years, has also seen the wider impact that Fiona and Verlin’s partnership has had on the school: “When the teachers and students see Fiona and know they can be successful in any field. They know they’ve got the support they need here as well, because they’ve seen how we’ve adapted so Fiona can have an assistance dog in school. I am confident that Fiona can do her job effectively and go above and beyond, like she does every day, because she’s got Verlin there.”

With Verlin by her side, Fiona feels ready to take on more challenges with confidence and enthusiasm.

“I have recently completed my National Professional Qualification for Head Teachers and have now started my first position as a Head Teacher. With Verlin, there is absolutely nothing holding me back from being as successful or as ambitious as I want to be.” Said Fiona. “I feel alive again as I have a future. Where there was a weight holding me back, as if there was something tied on to me stopping me from  going forwards, Verlin has just taken all that away and is running ahead, clearing the path for me. Nothing can stand in our way.”

This World Teacher Day, Canine Partners is celebrating how assistance dogs like Verlin can transform the lives of adults with disabilities so that they can live full and active lives with their families and in the workplace.

 

Watch Fiona’s full story here

Canine Partners currently supports over 400 active working assistance dogs in the UK helping people with conditions such as Multiple Sclerosis, Spinal Cord Injury, and Cerebral Palsy, of which 95%* of our partners said that their canine partner assistance dog has met or exceeded their expectations.

Nicki Berry, who has a Spinal Cord Injury, Cauda Equina Syndrome and Essential Tremor, has had a Canine Partners an assistance dog for over three years.

Nicki’s injury made things physically very difficult for her and her family, so they had to move back to the UK from Finland to get the support they needed.

Watch Nicki’s full story here

Click here to find out more about Spinal Cord Injury

49-year-old Nicki, from Yorkshire, said: “After my injury life was just horrible, I was fortunate that I had my husband, Neil, and our two sons as we are a very close family and they did such a lot to make life manageable. I just felt like I was going to be dependent on other people forever and I hate asking for help from other people, as I have always seen myself as strong and capable of doing what I need to do.”

Neil Berry, Nicki’s husband of 27 years, and their two young sons, who were just 15 and 17 years old at the time of her injury, shared the responsibility of caring for Nicki and doing the tasks that needed to be done on a daily basis.

Neil said: “There is absolutely nothing that can prepare you for having to watch your loved one in absolute agony and it was particularly challenging for both our boys watching their mum go from being fit, healthy and active one day to being doubled up in agony the next. She couldn’t do anything herself, including going to the toilet, bathing and feeding herself. It was like a light switch – it suddenly happened.”

Nicki’s parents, Janet and Mike Vyvyan, were living in England when Nicki was injured and found it difficult to be apart from her.

Nicki’s mum, Janet, said: “They came back to England and lived with us for a while but initially we were very worried as Neil was doing a lot of caring for Nicki.  As we are getting older ourselves we worried that if anything happened to Neil, how would we cope looking after Nicki?”

Life for the family changed when Nicki was partnered with assistance dog Liggy, provided by Canine Partners, in November 2017.

Neil said: “Liggy does a lot for Nicki but the most important thing for me is knowing that she has support with her 24/7. Whether it’s enabling Nicki to load and unload the washing machine or to pick things up off the floor when Nicki drops them, which with her condition is very common, or even to help her get undressed – they all seem like small things but when you put them together it’s a lot.”

For Nicki having Liggy, a black Labrador trained by Canine Partners since selection at eight weeks old, makes her feel a lot more confident and she doesn’t worry that something might happen when going into unknown situations.

Nicki said: “I’ve always been very independent but Liggy has enabled me to continue to be as independent when I became disabled, losing my independence was my biggest fear. At work I used to have to go and get someone to pick up a pen for me, now I don’t even have to think about it as Liggy will pick up that pen for me.”

In the workplace, Nicki’s manager, Ros Aspinall, describes her as an extremely talented designer, a strong manager who manages the company’s clients, and a wonderful person to have around in the office.

Ros said: “Liggy helps Nicki throughout the day, such as picking things up off the floor which I know is really helpful, but I think beyond that, it’s the psychological benefits I’ve noticed the most. It gives me peace of mind to know that Nicki has Liggy, who is available to alert us to any problems.”

“Even though Liggy is a working dog, she brings a very significant degree of fun to Nicki’s life and it’s the relaxation as well as the work aspect that really enriches Nicki’s life.”
– Janet, Nicki’s mum

Since having Liggy, Nicki has been able to restart her successful career, and study and complete a Master’s Degree – all of which her husband Neil attributes to having canine partner Liggy by her side.

Neil said: “As we don’t know what the long term outcome is of the injuries, we don’t know how long she will be able to work. Having Liggy gives her the additional support to help her to continue to do that for as long as possible, which is really positive for Nicki physically, mentally and emotionally.”

For Janet and Mike, they have found relief in Liggy being there for Nicki as they have seen Neil relax a lot more and they don’t have to worry as much.

“It will always be a worry, because Nicki’s condition is deteriorating and it won’t get any better, but there are things that Nicki has to cope with that show how brave and confident she is,” says Janet.

When Nicki was first injured, she was completely paralysed and Neil was having to provide all her care needs but now the couple are able to do things that ‘normally happen in a household’.

Nicki said:  “Neil was feeding me while I was lying flat on my back just so that I had something to eat and when I needed the toilet he would physically carry me while I was screaming in pain, and he did that because he loves me but that was never how I wanted our married life to be. We are still a married couple but now we can be a ‘normal’ married couple again.”

“There was a point where I was getting up in the morning, going to work, and then going to bed. But now with Liggy, I feel like I have a life again.”
– Nicki, partnered with canine partner Liggy

With Liggy helping her with daily tasks, Nicki now has more energy to do the things she finds enjoyable and to spend more time with her family.

International Assistance Dog Awareness Week was created to recognise all the devoted, hardworking assistance dogs across the world and runs from Sunday 1 August to Saturday 7 August 2021.

Canine Partners relies on donations and legacies to fund the creation of our life-changing partnerships, which transform the lives of not only their human partner but the lives of their family and community too.

*95% out of 272 respondents to Canine Partners’ 2020 User Voice Survey.

Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is currently the most frequent condition of the people the charity provides amazing assistance dogs to and is currently helping over 430 people living with physical disabilities across the UK, including over 80 people who have MS.

Sean Anderson, from Hampshire, started having symptoms of MS in early 2000, but wasn’t officially diagnosed until 2007.

The condition affects Sean’s nerves and immune system, and is steadily becoming worse over time.

Watch Sean’s full story here

Click here to find out more about MS.

40-year-old Sean said: “I couldn’t go into the garden or outside at all without relying on my wife, Josie, to take me out which left me feeling isolated. I also had to rely on my young children, Elsie and Mimi, to pick things up that I dropped as I couldn’t reach them from my wheelchair. I was very reliant on others which made me feel so frustrated and humiliated.”

As time went on, Sean was losing more of his independence and his wife of seven years, Josie Anderson, was having to step in to help him with daily tasks.

Josie, who started dating Sean only one year before his diagnosis, said:  “I couldn’t leave the house because someone always needed to be there for Sean in case he fell or needed something. If he dropped something it had to be me or our daughters picking it up for him and if he needed something from another room we had to get it for him.”

The impact of Sean’s diagnosis was felt across the whole family, as Josie’s mum and sister worried about how the condition would affect Sean and Josie’s lives.

Jen, Josie’s twin sister, said: “I think it is very hard for Sean to ask for help and to rely on other people, but Josie was always willing to ask us for help, as there were things she couldn’t do because she always had to be there for Sean. It can be really hard when you’ve got to be around for someone all the time, which affected my relationship with my sister too, as we are very close.”

Jen along with their mum, Jan, watched as Josie became a carer for Sean whilst his condition progressed, meaning they couldn’t spend as much time together as a family.

Jan, Sean’s mother-in-law, said: “We didn’t really know about MS at the time Sean was diagnosed and although we wanted to find out more we were also scared to. It was really tough watching his condition progress because Sean was so dependent on Josie and she had the children to look after as well.”

Life for the family changed when Sean was partnered with assistance dog Lucas, provided by Canine Partners, in August 2018.

Josie said: “Our lives have changed so much now that we have Lucas, as now I can leave the house knowing Sean’s got Lucas with him so if he needs something or needs help Lucas can get it. Although Sean needs his space, he didn’t do so well with his mental health when he was by himself for too long, but having Lucas there has made a massive difference as they’re like best friends.”

For Sean having Lucas, a yellow Labrador X Golden Retriever, also means he can be a more involved parent to his children, including supporting their bedtime routine, something which he struggled to do before.

Sean said: “Lucas will take things to Josie or the children, for example quite often Elsie will forget her dolly downstairs and she has it for bed time. Whilst before there wasn’t much I could do to help, now I can ask Lucas to go and take it to her which makes me feel great.

“I feel more independent and less incapable now that I have Lucas.”

Lucas’ impact has also reached Jen, who has rediscovered her sister relationship with Josie. Jen said: “Josie would have to stay at home with Sean or he would have to come out with us, which changes the dynamic a bit like it would if my husband came. Now, we can do more together as sisters on our own which is really nice. Sean is so much happier because he doesn’t have to rely on Josie as much, which I can see has released a lot of Josie’s worry.”

Having Lucas means that the family are able to do more together and can continue with their day to day lives, without Sean’s condition having an impact on what they can do. For Josie, this means she can leave the house knowing that Sean is in safe ‘paws’!

Josie said: “My own mental health has improved too, as I don’t feel guilty for needing a moment to myself. If I need a break, I feel comfortable to go out of the house knowing that Lucas is holding down the fort at home.”

This wouldn’t have been possible without canine partner Lucas – he enables Sean to be an active part of his children’s lives, helps Sean with daily tasks so he can be independent, and gives Josie, Jen and Jan peace of mind that Sean is safe when they aren’t there.

Sean’s young daughters Elsie, eight, and Mimi, five, have noticed a difference too. They said: “Before daddy had Lucas he would sleep a lot, but now Lucas is here he stays awake more. Daddy is happier with Lucas and he takes us out for walks, which we really enjoy and we play with Lucas in the field with his toys when he isn’t working for daddy.”

Canine Partners relies on donations and legacies to fund the creation of our life-changing partnerships, which transform the lives of not only their human partner but the lives of their family too.

Any donation made to Canine Partners could help more people, like Sean, be partnered with an amazing canine partner assistance dog.