Sandra was partnered with canine partner Bumble in July 2015. This is her story.

It doesn’t seem long ago that I was getting on with my life as normal.  I worked as a Psychiatric nurse for thirty years and latterly a Psychiatric Liaison Nurse Manager, working with a team looking after people in crisis.  It could be quite a stressful job, but I loved it and thrived on the buzz.

I started to become unwell in 2009 and was quickly diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis (MS).  At the time I was adamant that I wouldn’t use a stick, then I wouldn’t use crutches.  However, as time has gone on I will use whatever it takes to help me get from A to B. I took early retirement in 2014, but until then I continued to work through some very difficult times.  I was devastated to have to leave my job, but now I look upon it as a blessing.  If I hadn’t left, I probably would never have applied to Canine Partners.

Meeting Bumble

When I heard about Canine Partners, I requested an application form but did nothing with it for a year – I felt there were other people who needed more help than me.  It was only when I met Carter, a beautiful golden doodle, with his partner that things changed.  I hijacked them for about an hour to talk about Canine Partners and her parting words to me were to apply, as I had nothing to loose – they could only say no.

Thankfully they didn’t say no and at every stage of the application process I found it hard not to get too excited.  In May 2015 I finally got the call to say that they had found a possible match for me, I didn’t even ask what her breed was – just her name.  Two days later we were on a flight to meet Bumble at the Southern Training Centre!  I remember first meeting Bumble like it was yesterday.  She sashayed through the door and it was love at first sight, she is such a pretty wee dog and I couldn’t believe how lucky I was.

After the match was confirmed, I headed back to the Southern Training Centre in June for the most fantastic two-week residential training course.  It was one of the hardest things I remember doing for a long time and was totally exhausted from it.  However I met lifelong friends and a few months after returning home I realised what all that hard work was about – creating a partnership.

Life with Bumble

I cannot tell you how much I love Bumble and what a difference she has made to my life.  When I go out, people stop and talk about what Bumble does for me rather than avoiding the lady in the wheelchair.  Before Bumble I had lost all my confidence and hadn’t been out on my own for over a year, now I am never on my own with her at my side.

In the past I found it very frustrating when I dropped things, which I do frequently, as I had to ask someone else to pick them up for me.  Now, Bumble does this for me with her tail wagging and is delighted to help.  I also really struggled to get my clothes off which she does with ease, even putting them on the chair for me.  She gets me the phone, which is a huge reassurance to my family, as they know she can help if anything happens.  She also lifts the footplates on my wheelchair, something I cannot do on my own.

We had all got a bit wrapped up in what wasn’t going well with my MS, but Bumble has changed the focus.  She gives me so much love and makes me smile everyday when before I couldn’t always find things to smile about.  However, I always tell people that she isn’t a robot; she’s still a dog.  When she is working she wears her purple jacket with pride, but when it’s playtime she gets to run around the park with her friends.

I genuinely mean it when I say how life changing it is to have a canine partner.  She gives me unconditional love and although she melts everyone’s hearts, I love her the most.  I wouldn’t be as happy as I am today if it wasn’t for Bumble and I cannot thank everyone who helped to raise her enough.  In my opinion all dogs are amazing, but some are truly amazing – like Bumble and all the other canine partners.

Hazel was partnered with canine partner Questa in March 2018. Since then, the partnership have gone on to do amazing things such as take the title as the winner of the Scrufts Family Crossbreed of the Year competition at Crufts 2022. This is her story:

 

 

I have multiple conditions, which means I can’t walk very far without getting out of breath, I break bones very easily, and I have problems with my joints where they don’t support me and I fall over a lot. I can’t go very far at all if I walk, so I use a wheelchair.

When I was diagnosed with Osteoporosis my bones were very brittle so I couldn’t horse ride anymore and my asthma meant I couldn’t swim anymore either. I then took up bowls, as I could just walk a little way to bowl, which I really enjoyed. However, I then broke my back and had to give that up too. My conditions have affected everything in my life.

I struggled every day but I wouldn’t give in – I would still go out in my wheelchair to see people in my village and to go to clubs, but everything was very hard. Getting dressed, getting in to my wheelchair and even getting out of my own front door and closing it behind me was difficult. It really made my joints hurt to do little simple things which made them a marathon task.

I pushed myself and made myself go out to join in with things. I live in a very friendly village so I very quickly got into village life with some good people around me to support me. My daughter also lives just around the corner, so she brought me food and would help me with things I couldn’t do on my own. I always had to have someone here when I had a shower, just in case I needed help. I really didn’t like that as I prefer being independent.

Discovering Canine Partners

My friend has a canine partner and he is absolutely brilliant, so they inspired me to apply for one. It was a long wait, which was difficult, but Canine Partners kept in touch throughout which was nice. The first time I met Questa it was wonderful. She had this cute little face and eyes that just stared at me. She sat next to me and we looked at each other – I think we just loved each other straight away. During our training course she did all the tasks really well and was eager to please.

When I brought Questa home, we went for a walk to our local sports centre. It usually only takes 15 minutes but it must have taken us over half an hour because everyone in the village stopped to say hello to my new amazing assistance dog. People actually spoke to me rather than to the person I was with, which was brilliant.

Shutting that front door is no longer a problem as I can go out the door and Questa will shut it for me. Just those little things are fantastic. I can have a shower on my own now because Questa will get the phone for me. I feel safe and secure enough with her there that I can do that now with no one else in the house.

 

Life with Questa

It was just after I brought Questa home that I broke three vertebrae in my back and had to give up bowls, which made me really sad. Luckily, we still were able to get out and do things around the village, which is where I saw a poster for a fun dog show. I took Questa along and she was brilliant. That very first dog show we took part in she got reserve Best in Show and she wagged her tail all day. We started doing more shows and we got into Rally – an obedience course run by The Kennel Club. I meet the same people at different Rally shows and so we’ve become friends. The support from them has been fantastic and, because of Questa, I’ve got lots of new interests and friends now.

Questa was taught by Canine Partners to get my nebuliser and when we came home she had to learn where I kept it in the house too. She soon learnt where it is kept! At night I often wake up very breathless and my oxygen levels will go down. Before Questa, I would have needed an ambulance, but because she can get the nebuliser for me I no longer need to call for help. She also can now tell when I am going to need my nebuliser, so I will wake up breathless and she’s already got it for me. She wasn’t taught this by Canine Partners – she has just picked it up from what I need and when I need it because we are together all the time. It’s fantastic as she has saved ambulances from coming out to me as she catches me before I get to the point of needing one.

Questa has learnt new tasks since I’ve brought her home.  For example, she will now take socks and shoes off, which I didn’t need until I broke my back and couldn’t bend over. It only took her one day to learn how to do it. She also helped me lift my legs into bed, as I couldn’t do it while the swelling in my back went down. She just steps up when I’m in difficulty and does things you wouldn’t think possible.

We are totally independent now, apart from changing light bulbs in the house which my son-in-law does for me. We do everything together and she helps around the house. Other than my cleaner who comes in, we live completely independently. I came out of my wheelchair in a car park and had an open fracture in my arm, but Questa stayed with me the whole time even when help came. She seems to know when I am in trouble and she will stay close. She came to hospital with me, kept me company, and even put her head on my lap when they were doing horrible things to my arm. With her there, nothing else mattered.

My family, who live around the corner, still support me and I get meals brought to me, but they know now that they don’t have to check on me because Questa is here to look after me. She can get me things, including the phone, so they know I’m safe and that she will get help if I need it. She has also started to get help from a stranger in the park, so I know that if I fall out of my wheelchair I am confident she will get someone to help me. This means my family aren’t so worried about me going to the park on my own.

She is so good and so happy all of the time that I can’t be miserable, because she’ll just look at me and wag her tail which makes me feel so happy. I wouldn’t change her for the world. When I asked for a dog, I did ask for a yellow or golden dog but then I got Questa who is black. But if you offered me a yellow dog now I wouldn’t swap her – there is no way I would give her up for anything. She is fantastic and just the right dog for me.

 

 

Lindsey was partnered with canine partner Sam in October 2011. This is her story:

In 2005 I had a bad fall from a horse, which damaged my spinal cord and meant I had no balance. At first I managed okay with a walking frame and holding on to different surfaces, but as time went on my balance became worse and I ended up on the floor frequently. I had to be more and more careful about how I moved around, which was quite depressing and I found it difficult to cope whilst continuing with normal life. I didn’t feel confident, especially when my husband was at work.

As I am totally blind I had just accepted I would never go out on my own again, which wasn’t what I was used to as I was active and had been going everywhere with a Guide Dog. I just accepted that that was it. I missed being with a dog and meeting my friends whenever I liked.

As I had previously had a Guide Dog, I was always aware of other assistance dog charities and then friends of the family suggested that as I was always happy with my dogs, it might be a good idea to apply for a canine partner. After some thought, I applied. When I first met Sam, I thought he was a lovely waggy-tailed dog with a lot of character, but I was unaware at the time of what a livewire he is! He is a dog who is up for anything. We had a lovely time during the Onsite Training Course. My husband and my retired Guide Dog Yeoman joined me, and by the time we went home we were a family.

Life with Sam

When we went home, my husband went back to work and I realised how much I had to rely on Sam for everyday tasks. Things have changed gradually over the years. He opens doors for me, empties the washing machine and picks things up from the floor. As time went on, I found he could also do things such as put my footplates up and down, help me undress and help me get into bed by lifting my foot up onto the bed. More recently, he has helped get my foot off the footplate on the wheelchair and I have found I now can’t lift my knee without help, so Sam helps me by pushing it with his nose.

Outside he can press lift and automatic door buttons, and he will give my purse over the counter to the store assistant – a task which Sam likes to do as fast as he can! Emotionally I am quite happy to go out and meet friends for coffee and a walk. Without my sight I can’t be totally alone, but I am happy to take an accessible taxi to church for a mid-week service and I use the taxi to go down to the seafront and meet friends for a walk and a coffee.  With Sam, I am confident and never alone. It has been eight and a half years and he still continues to do all these tasks with great gusto and love!

Adapting to life during the Covid-19 pandemic

During the current Covid-19 pandemic, I don’t need to shield or self isolate due to my condition. However, I am finding it hard not being able to talk to people when I am out with Sam to tell them abut Canine Partners. Sam still continues to do tasks for me no matter what and I am very grateful that he is always there for me. The current situation makes me feel much more isolated from people. The pandemic has really emphasised the importance of my relationship with Sam and the importance of his company.

Since having Sam, my health has improved because now there is no strain of having to manage on my own and I can relax a bit more. Canine Partners mean everything to me as Sam is my life. I now feel at one with everyone else – it is no longer just me and a wheelchair.

We need your support now, more than ever, to ensure that when the Covid-19 pandemic is over, we are still here and able to train amazing assistance dogs for people living with physical disabilities across the UK. Your support will help to make sure our 30^th year is not our final year.

Help to protect our future today by clicking here to donate.

Wilma was partnered with canine partner Belle in February 2019. This is her story:

I live with Osteogenesis Imperfecta (OI), more commonly known as brittle bones, which affects my collagen and causes extreme fatigue. I have had over 300 cracks and fractures, but as it affects everything with collagen I have also had many debilitating connective tissue injuries and I bruise very easily. I can be severely injured just from picking things up, opening and closing doors, and reaching for items in my home or shops. My condition has caused more problems over the last 15 years so I have stopped doing many activities I used to love. I have always been hugely independent and would rather take far longer to do something than ask anyone for help.

Having lived with OI all my life, during my childhood my parents didn’t wrap me in cotton wool and encouraged me to try things. I have always loved being on or in water. Once I learnt to swim, initially as a way to build muscle to support and protect my bones, a swimming coach reckoned there was potential somewhere and, as a result, I trained hard, joined a swimming club and swam competitively for Scotland and Great Britain. I then added wheelchair racing as well as taking part in the Paralympics and European events. Due to demands from my career in teaching, I retired from competitive sport in my mid 20s but still enjoyed activities like canoeing and sailing. I then got involved in the Disability Movement, discovered the Social Model of Disability as opposed to the traditional ‘Medical Model’ and became a disability activist, all of which changed my perceptions of being a disabled person. I stopped ‘denying’ and trying to cover up that I had a disability and travelled widely, including to North America for my Churchill Travel Fellowship, looking at the education of children and young people with disabilities from an inclusion and rights perspective. I still campaign for our rights today. I work on the basis that while I may fracture, I heal, and being able to do activities rather than watching from the side-lines is a definite plus in my mind.

Life with Belle

As I’ve grown older, the growing impact of OI, along with severe complications from previous surgeries, allergic drug reactions causing peripheral neuropathy and Complex Regional Pain Syndrome, have made it increasingly difficult to do what to me seemed very basic things. I’ve had many injuries struggling to get clothes on and off, especially coats and trousers. I frequently drop things and the act of leaning to pick them up was a constant source of pain and injury. Changing the bed, taking washing through to the washing machine, loading and unloading it then hanging the washing up would exhaust me for the rest of the day, leaving me in severe pain. When I have to lie down on the sofa or in bed, moving to get up can be intensely painful or leave me stuck but with my extraordinary canine partner, Belle, many things are so much easier and safer for me. She is there in a flash to help me, her gorgeous amber eyes looking expectantly at me, often with her funny grin and tail wagging excitedly, letting me know: “I’m here for you mum, what next?”

Whether it’s bringing a ‘tuggy’ for us both to hold the ends of and her to gently pull on to allow me to slowly move into a position where I can get up, Belle standing perfectly still so I can rest my hand on her back to balance as I stand up to transfer from one place to another, bringing me my manual wheelchair if it’s out of reach, getting the shoe horn and my slippers from another room, bringing me the phone from elsewhere in the house, helping me change the bedding, pulling the duvet up once I’m in bed, and bringing me the post. Now that the days are getting warmer, she gets her brush and other grooming kit, puts it in her basket and carries them outside where we sit in the sun while she gets a good brush and we both relax.

Adapting to life during the Covid-19 pandemic

As I became aware early on during the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic of what was happening elsewhere in the world but particularly in Italy, I made the decision to begin self-isolating at the beginning of March. I also decided at that stage that I had to stop the few people who helped me with things at home from coming, which has made things more difficult and hugely tiring. Although my type of OI and mild asthma doesn’t place me in the shielding group, I am undoubtedly at major risk from COVID-19 as my spine and ribs fracture easily – especially if I have a severe cough or sneeze. My asthma also becomes more of problem when I have a bad cold or flu.

I’ve become used to this way of reorganised and protected living and prefer not having to formally shield. Having spent many weeks and months in hospital or ‘trapped’ indoors due to fractures and other injuries throughout my life means, like many other disabled people, I have been able to draw on this to make life more bearable to cope with in these very different times and circumstances. In the last 10 years I also survived multiple severe infections in my femur bone and surrounding tissues, have watched nurses barrier nursing and doing everything for me when I’ve been seriously ill in hospital, and as soon as I started self isolating, I applied the principles and practices learned and observed at those times.

Thanks to wonderful neighbours in the courtyard where I live, self isolating (other than taking Belle for walks) has been easier than I could ever have imagined. While it was difficult to get a delivery slot from any supermarkets, many of my neighbours would let me know if they were going for their own shopping, so I’d give them a list of 3 or 4 necessities, which has been a godsend (although flour is still unobtainable!). I’ve had to stop my cleaner, for now, who did all of my household ‘chores’ and much more for me which means I’m having to very carefully and slowly do it all myself, trying to avoid injuring myself in the process and that extra work certainly causes additional aches and pains. Belle is a great help carrying dusters and polish in her basket from room to room and bringing me things.

Unexpectedly, and unbearably sadly since I started to write this piece, Brian, my brother, lost his wife, Lorraine, when she passed away in his arms suddenly on 18 May. He phoned me very shortly after to tell me and all I wanted to do was get in the car to go to be with him. Knowing that I couldn’t was horrendous and heartbreaking. I spent much of the rest of that day in tears and there have been many more since. Belle knew something was wrong and stayed very close. Having to care for her, take her out for walks and talk to her as well as family and friends is helping. Neighbours have remarked on how she stands across the front of my wheelchair and gently leans against my legs when I’m talking to them as if she is trying to protect me from more distress. She most definitely gives the best cuddles in this time of social distancing. Being able to hold her close while I can’t give my brother, nephews and their families physical hugs helps a little, but the heartache is still there.

Belle is my immediate world. I’m sure I would have found self isolating much harder emotionally and practically without Belle and my days would have been more unstructured. We are both missing the opportunities to meet up with friends, to be closer to people we meet when out for walks and dogs for her to play with.

Every task we do together reduces the risk of further fractures, injuries and fatigue. I definitely feel that I am retaining my independence for many years to come as a reality. I see us learning together, working hard, having fun, and continuing to be as much an active member of society as, I hope, I’ve always been. Canine Partners, the organisation, and everyone involved in it, is now a hugely important part of my everyday life. I want others to have the opportunities and experiences I have had since being partnered with Belle. I want the supporters, volunteers and staff members to know how much I value everything they do.

We need your support now, more than ever, to ensure that when the Covid-19 pandemic is over, we are still here and able to train amazing assistance dogs for people living with physical disabilities across the UK. Your support will help to make sure our 30^th year is not our final year.

Help to protect our future today by clicking here to donate.

Reflection & Celebration

The saying goes with the passing of time love grows stronger, can this be so

How  can I not know …

I reflect on the day a glossy black bundle and Canine Partners came bounding into my life leaving it forever changed

Reminiscing on those first awkward moments as we toiled and forged our bond

Her love like an anchor has grown steady, never faltering, staying dark days

Lifting, tugging, pulling, supporting, loving in so many ways

We are chastened; Never ask a lady her age #

But this muzzle now speckled with stardust revealing how the years have passed

Oh, how I thought this love would never last

So dear friends as we caress our 4 legged champions, arms please raise

Applaud 30 years of CP give them praise

For like the mighty Oak shooting forth growth & lending succor

We shelter under it’s canopy

No more left to wonder

For, Canine Partners is  – our family

Ruth – May 2020

Louise was partnered with canine partner Skye in September 2018. This is her story:

I have Cerebral Palsy so I have always been a bit wobbly. I’ve used a wheelchair since high school, so for about 26 years. I studied maths in Norwich and trained to be a teacher, but life in the classroom didn’t quite work out and despite everything I do miss it.

Six years ago, life got harder as I was struggling with my changing limitations and then everyone in the office where I worked got made redundant. The anxiety and depression I’ve battled with since university was getting worse. The house was a mess as things I dropped would stay on the floor. The laundry wasn’t done either – not because I couldn’t do it but that to do it took ages and was exhausting.  I needed help doing little things but I was worried about being a nuisance and getting in the way. I didn’t cope well with people in my house either, so I tried to get by with help once a week.

Life was scary. Sometimes I’d need to ‘escape’ my own house – I could do it but needed to put my fingers in the hinge just to close the door which was not very safe.  Even then, I’d often sit in silence as my friends talked around me, or get overwhelmed by the busyness of Tesco and leave before I’d even looked at the shelves. I could go all week without speaking to anyone and I was getting more isolated.

Life with Skye

I met Skye for the first time on 13 August 2018 and couldn’t quite believe it. It was a busy, tiring day and despite all the reassurances that I would definitely get a dog at some point, it didn’t seem real. Skye captured my heart that day and we have been inseparable ever since.

Life still gets scary, but with Skye it’s a lot more fun. ‘Make people smile’ is definitely written in Skye’s job description and every day is a giggle. It usually starts with a chin resting on the bed, which is Skye speak for ‘is it cuddles time yet?’.  Find a gap in the wags and kisses and we can get up!

Skye does lots of practical things for me like opening doors, picking things up, fetching my water, and even reminding me to take my tablets – she has learnt the sound of the tablet alarm by herself and will bring me the bag it lives in, failing that she will stop and stare if she can’t reach. That is something Canine Partners didn’t teach! She helps me with the laundry too, including pulling my socks off – Skye loves socks!  I can’t say the house is much tidier but there’s more space. Things don’t fall on the floor and stay there for a week and the laundry gets done when it’s needed and not just when someone else is around, but neither of us has mastered the hoover and all those blonde hairs!

Skye is wonderful, she doesn’t really mind what she does or when. If I’m awake in the middle of the night she’ll keep me company and if I drop something 20 times she’ll still get it. Skye is a cheeky monkey, a banana and my ‘Skye rocket’ – she gives me confidence to go out and a reason to go out when the world seems really scary.

Adapting to life during the Covid-19 pandemic

During the current Covid-19 pandemic I am not self-isolating or shielding, but I live alone with Skye and my family is 150 miles away. Norfolk is spread out so most of our friends live a few miles away or are in the shielding group so life since lockdown has been very quiet for both of us.

I have had significant mental health issues for years. Right now I’m in a relatively good place emotionally, but I do not like to think how I would be without Skye for company as at times she is the only one keeping me going.  Without her I would not have any reason to go outside and I would only see one carer a week.

It sounds really strange, but life in lockdown is like life before Skye, but with the added bonus of having Skye in it for company.  It’s quiet, I don’t see many people and I try to avoid places with people in them.  Lockdown is also quite liberating for me, in a strange way, being on my own means I don’t need to worry so much about others’ opinions. I don’t have to struggle to be ‘normal’ and keep up with everyone else. So, while this situation is strange and I definitely don’t want to get ill, I know I need to get on with it and live whatever life is now.

In some ways the ‘panic’ before lockdown was worse, Skye and I would go to our normal places for our normal shop or whatever and we were suddenly invisible!  Places were so crowded that we had no space to do what we needed – I would get nudged or Skye would be hit by a trolley. We were fine, but it meant we were effectively forced into lockdown before everyone else because it didn’t feel safe and I was concerned about Skye getting hurt or frightened. I felt crowded out.  Our garden is communal and right next to a car park so I can’t let Skye off lead at home – we still go out to a field for exercise.

During Covid-19, Skye is still my best friend. She makes me laugh, helps me out and holds me together.  Skye has saved my life, there was no dramatic rescue, but I’m not sure I would still be here without Skye around. It seems that ‘everyone’ was complaining and getting anxious about their ‘freedom’ being taken away due to lockdown and things being different and, for once, I was in a group where very little changed.

Skye is there as my helper and my conversation starter. Having her to focus on makes me less scared and, of course, she’s everyone’s favourite customer. We’ve been on holiday for the first time in years and with Skye’s help I’ve gone back into school as a volunteer.  It’s not quite the classroom but I am back to being useful and it could be the start of something.

Skye is settled with me now – we are unconventional and quirky, but we are a team.  We get recognised everywhere, and if I don’t take Skye I get ‘Hang on, don’t you normally have a dog?’. Our future looks bright, waggy, and full of adventures to who knows where.

Canine Partners is amazing, just like their dogs. I still say thank you to Skye’s puppy parent and fosterer whenever I get a chance, they gave us the start we needed.

We need your support now, more than ever, to ensure that when the Covid-19 pandemic is over, we are still here and able to train amazing assistance dogs for people living with physical disabilities across the UK. Help to protect our future today by clicking here to donate.

Kelsey was partnered with canine partner Hamble in August 2019. This is her story:

I have had Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) since a very young age and I began missing school regularly at the age of 11. I have struggled to remain in education ever since. I grew up in France, where I had a very understanding doctor but he was unable to help me. After moving to the UK and getting a part time job, my health declined very rapidly – I was diagnosed in January, came home on crutches in May and was wheelchair bound by June.

This had a drastic effect on my life. I had been a competitive climber before, which had always been part of my plans for the future. I was studying music and wanted to perform on stage, but I lost all my confidence.

I struggled getting out by myself and I always felt like people were wondering what I was doing out alone. All the small day-to-day tasks became more and more difficult for me to manage, and I felt completely abandoned by my doctors. I had very few friends on my university course and I made even fewer as I was scared to approach anyone. I would just go straight home whenever I didn’t have to be in a lecture. I lost the ability to climb, meaning I lost my emotional and physical outlet. I became quite depressed and struggled to remain positive about my future.

I then made my first real friends who gave me a desire to regain control of my life. I searched the internet for help, focusing on regaining the independence I would need to return to university. That was when I came across the Canine Partners website for the first time. I knew that after university I wouldn’t want to move back in with my parents, but that didn’t look possible without the adapted room and equipment I had in my student accommodation. I was scared about the idea of being alone and having no help. I decided to apply for a Canine Partner in the summer before my second year at university. I was on the waiting list for almost exactly three years. During that time, I graduated from university despite everything and took the plunge in renting my own place in Manchester. I was away from my family but near to the friends that got me through such a difficult time. That summer I received the call to say they had found a match for me.

Life with Hamble

From day one Hamble was a huge help. I remember during our first week together on the Onsite Training Course (OST) I couldn’t quite reach my pyjamas and without me needing to ask she just passed them to me. I just started crying! Before heading home she had already figured out that I always ask for slippers when I’m getting out of bed and starts handing them to me before I’ve finished asking – she still does that to this day.

From the moment I wake up, she helps with every single thing I do. She’s given me the energy and confidence to return to social activities, get a part time job and even return to paraclimbing! I went on a camping trip just after we were partnered and I had the confidence to be on my own and we explored so many places. Hamble has always slept on my feet while I play piano and she did the same when I played the piano in these places.

Hamble adapted so quickly to my life and all the things I was able to add to it. She settled down during concert band rehearsals, even sleeping through the booming timpanis. I got a job working on a till and she took to it so well – from the very first shift she settled onto her bed underneath the till. I have a badge explaining that I need an assistance dog for medical reasons but most people never even know she’s there!

Most importantly for me was that Hamble was with me as I attempted to return to the world of climbing. I cannot use my lower legs but I am able to climb on my knees with the help of kneepads. I was so scared that I wouldn’t even make it off the ground and would have to grieve this loss again, but I did so much better than I could have ever imagined.

She gives me the confidence to try things just by being there. People often expect to see her do a task when they glance at her and wonder why she needs to be there. But I always try to emphasise that the important thing is that she is there when I need her. I have dropped one of my crutches before and become stuck as I have all my bodyweight balanced through one crutch. When I’m alone my only option is to allow myself to fall but with Hamble she can just pick up the dropped crutch and hand it to me. It makes the experience just a small inconvenience. I have more confidence now than I had before I lost the ability to walk as Hamble is always there to get me through any situation.

Adapting to life during the COVID-19 pandemic

During the current coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic I have been advised to shield for 12 weeks by the NHS. My conditions are not fully understood yet but research points towards an autoimmune disorder. I resigned from my job as it is customer facing and I am grateful that I have been able to shield as I am very fearful of how the virus could affect me.

I went on holiday at the beginning of March after just moving house, so I returned home to an empty house full of boxes. My friends are shielding and my family live too far away to offer practical help. The lockdown has made it very difficult for me to access any practical or emotional support. Hamble has always been a fast learner and picks up new routines almost immediately, so she has been a huge help. She has learnt the locations of all the named items I may need, going upstairs or downstairs to fetch them for me too. We spend a lot of time going out for walks as we now have wheelchair friendly walks nearby. She has been my only practical and emotional support during these exceptional circumstances and I couldn’t do it without her. She has been a bigger support than ever and I trust her now more than ever.

Hamble is my rock in any situation, especially during this current pandemic. She keeps me going outside for our daily walk and sits with me while I read or work. She is my partner and I can’t see my current life or my future without her in it. She is loved by my close friends and a part of all of our plans now – we often go for dog walks all together. She really allowed me to reclaim my life and my future and I could never repay her or Canine Partners for that.

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Dominique was partnered with canine partner Misty in June 2019. This is her story:

I have multiple conditions that have a big impact on my day-to-day life. I have a surgically-fused spine following treatment for severe scoliosis, I have Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome that causes chronic pain, chronic fatigue as well as dislocations, gastrointestinal difficulties and heart rate irregularities and dysautonomia (to name a few!). On top of this, I have Catamenial Dystonia – which means I have very severe dystonic spasms that can affect my entire body, this is related to my menstrual cycle and hormones.

Prior to being partnered with Misty, my life had begun to escalate into a pretty lonely and miserable place. My disabilities began revealing themselves when I was 16 years old, starting with scoliosis. Before this, I had some difficulties, but they all went unaddressed – then I hit 16 years old and it was like an endless tsunami of ill health and mysterious illnesses. I felt like I was drowning. At 16 years old, you are supposed to believe that you’re about to gain a sense of independence and freedom, but I felt as if I was reverting back to a five year old.

I tried to continue in education the best I could, as in some ways I was in denial regarding my ill-health, but between juggling college and university I was having endless trips to hospital or being housebound or bedbound. Things got extremely bad and I ended up having to withdraw from university for a period of time. Consequently by the time I was about 22 years old, following six years of turmoil, I went into some really dark places and was in a constant state of anxiety mixed with anger. It put strain on my family and our relationships were really tested – I felt like a prisoner in my own home and a monumental burden on my parents and sister. Simply taking off and putting on my shoes or just waking up became things I heavily relied on my family for. It was truly demoralising.

Life with Misty

Since my partnership with Misty, I can honestly say my life has changed for the better. I never realised how much difficulty, discomfort and pain every day tasks caused me, until I had Misty – when all of a sudden that pain began to subside.

The biggest tasks that make the most difference to my day to day life are lower level tasks – such as taking shoes off, taking trousers off, tidying up, retrieving dropped items or collecting items from low cupboards/shelving. Prior to the support from Misty, either my family or partner would have to assist me or else I would have to leave the item and resort to utilising something else. If all else failed, I would force myself to try and get the lower level object – causing myself unnecessary pain and injury. You can imagine how much thinking and pre-planning went into the simplest tasks, but now – it’s a breeze! Misty performs these tasks so effortlessly and happily, that it’s come naturally to the both of us. It feels as if this is the way these tasks should have been performed all along. Likewise, Misty’s ability to find my emergency medication and to get help for me is truly lifesaving.

Before I had Misty, I lived in a constant state of alert – I would always have to be accompanied by someone I trust in case I became critically ill and I always had to be extra precautionary when near roads or other busy places. Now, due to Misty being so in-sync with myself, as well as our bond ever-growing – I feel comfortable to be out and about, with just Misty and myself. Misty has wholeheartedly given me a momentous chunk of my independence back. Overall, thanks to my partnership with Misty: my chronic pain is more manageable, my fatigue levels have lessened, and my anxiety and fear have begun to subside. Furthermore, although a vast amount of my symptomatology related to my disability and illness still remain and will not disappear – having Misty by my side in those horrible times, makes fighting through the hard times that little bit easier. Overall, it is without a doubt that Misty has made huge positive physical changes to my life.

For all of this – for all the positivity that has been poured into my life – I have to wholeheartedly thank everyone, the employees and volunteers, at Canine Partners. I feel so incredibly lucky for having Canine Partners in my life. They not only gave me the most devoted and sweet-natured assistance dog, but they’ve also continued to give me support, encouragement and life-skills related to overcoming hurdles related to disabled living. With every wobble I’ve had – they’ve supported me wholeheartedly and I can’t begin to thank them enough. I honestly don’t know how I got so lucky to be taken under the wing of such a sensational charity, but I can’t begin to thank you all enough. Each and every dog Canine Partners raises, will most-certainly have an incredible impact on somebody’s life. I am so incredibly grateful to them for giving me my independence and life back again.

Adapting to life during the Covid-19 pandemic

I am currently shielding due to being at greater risk of Covid-19 due to having a neurological and very rare condition. It is definitely a scary time – especially when you receive the letter stating you must be shielded in your home for 12 weeks. In all honesty, it feels surreal. It almost feels as if you’re living in a post-apocalyptic, science-fiction film where you are most at risk of dying. It really is a morbid prospect and risk to be facing.

Shielding and being in lockdown feels as if I am greeting an old (albeit unwelcome) friend. Before coronavirus and before my partnership with Misty, having a disability and illness that can be extremely severe and paralysing meant I was and am very familiar with being housebound and bedbound for a prolonged period of time. Being forced into this scenario due to a global pandemic is truly unnerving. On one level, I’ve experienced this before, so I know what to expect. On the other hand, I feel agitated and frustrated that it is happening again outside of my control. There is this constant state of anxiety and fear in my household. If I do contract coronavirus, I could be seriously ill. Consequently, my partner and I have to be very “clinical” – cleaning and washing things almost obsessively to control potential contamination.

My pain levels have increased, having a direct impact on my general mobility (bending, opening doors, and carrying items for example). I am experiencing increased dislocations and subluxations due to deconditioning in my muscle tone and I’m experiencing greater levels of fatigue and exhaustion. This is all a direct result of a lack of activity and exercise available when being isolated to my home. While the points stated above are side effects of house-bound isolation, that I am all too familiar with – there is one key, fundamental difference to my experience this time. I have the beautiful and uplifting companionship of my Canine Partner, Misty.

Within the first week, Misty could definitely tell circumstances had changed and would not leave my side. Now – she is my rock and a constant calming presence. If I begin to feel on edge or am finding it difficult to “switch off”, Misty just comes over and gives me the biggest cuddle. Physically, due to my lessened energy and heightened pain/dislocations, Misty will happily and effortlessly pass me items I have dropped, open doors for me and carry items to me that I’m having difficulty holding. Due to Misty and I only being partnered for just under a year, this time has proven invaluable! We get to bond by training and spending quality time together. She is now enjoying practising emptying and filling the washing machine for me, she is absolutely in love with finding my emergency medipack from around the house, and she is completely enthralled with practising getting my partner for help (like playing hide and seek around the house)! Overall, we are utilising this time the best we can – to bond, to train and to refresh tasks we may have been a little rusty on!

Currently, my partner and I are trying to view this current lockdown as something positive and an opportunity. I didn’t think it was possible for my love to grow more for Misty, but it definitely has. Prior to having Misty, being housebound would have pushed me into a really negative space. However, now, I wake up every morning with a purpose! Misty needs me, just as much as I need her! She is the most sweet and gentle girl, doing anything she can to make me smile. Whereas before, I felt like I had the worst luck – I now wake up each morning, seeing Misty’s happy, fluffy face and feel like the luckiest person in the world. I am so grateful to Misty and Canine Partners – I feel this would have been a completely different story if I wasn’t lucky enough to have the wonderful Misty in my life. She has changed things in my life for the better, in more ways than I could have imagined and now, more than ever, I am feeling so thankful to have her by my side.

I sincerely hope that people of the UK and globally, learn from this isolation and global pandemic. In particular, I hope individuals who are experiencing being in self-isolation for the first time, will remember how it feels and utilise this experience to help shape their actions and outlook going forward. Isolation is no stranger to individuals within the disabled community. We often spend years isolated – emotionally, physically and socially – and often have no one to turn to and no one who understands. Now, on a national and global level, millions of people understand what it is like to be trapped in your homes, removed from social interaction and controlled by limitations on your daily routines. I wholeheartedly hope that this will prove to be a turning point for those in and out of the disabled community and that this collective experience shall add to a collective empathy and understanding for individuals with disabilities – helping shape the way we actively support this community going forward.

Our amazing dogs make a huge difference to the life of their partner, and never more so than during the Covid-19 pandemic this year. Donate today and help us to continue transforming lives.

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