Forty-six year old James has always been involved in the great outdoors.’ After leaving school, he studied Woodland Management before starting an Arboriculture course. When his instructor offered him work in tree surgery, it was the start of a career he had always dreamed of.
Living in Wales he spent his free time rock climbing with friends, enjoying long days outside and pushing himself physically. “It was a great time. I enjoyed being outdoors with friends and the views and countryside are breathtaking.”
Then, during a routine job dismantling an ash tree, everything changed. James fell, sustaining a severe head injury, two broken vertebrae and multiple fractures. He was placed on life support, and, at one stage, doctors warned his loved ones to expect the worst. “My family didn’t give up on me and somehow I pulled through.”
His recovery was long and demanding. James had to relearn the basics, from speaking to eating and drinking. After spinal surgery and intensive rehabilitation, James began coming to terms with paralysis from the chest down and the lasting effects of his head injury, adjusting to a life that looked very different from the one he had known and loved.
A year after the accident, he moved from hospital into a halfway house to begin adjusting to life beyond hospital. “It was a hard time, but with the encouragement and support of my family, friends and carers, I gradually became more independent.”
Despite the progress he had made, everyday tasks were still tiring and time consuming. During a visit to an assistance dog training centre, James began to see what might be possible.
I realised one of these dogs could change everything for me.
Meeting Winter
In 2012, after applying to Canine Partners, James was matched with a black Labrador Canine Partner called Winter. She was full of energy, character, and quickly became the most important part of James’s life.
Winter retrieved dropped items and placed them directly into James’ hand, saving him from getting in and out of his wheelchair. When they were out, she pressed lift buttons and pulled doors open using cords or handles. Tasks that once required effort and planning became simpler and less physically demanding.
But her impact went far beyond the practical support. “I had a more structured life, getting up earlier and planning the day for both of us. I became more confident going out and was able to do so much more. Before, I was shy and held back, but Winter became my ice breaker and threw me right into the heart of things.”
With Winter by his side, James began to re-engage with the world around him. The reassurance she provided made social situations feel more manageable and leaving the house less daunting. If he fell or felt unwell, she would fetch the phone and remain beside him until help arrived. “Winter changed my life for the better. It did me good to have the responsibility of looking after her, knowing she relied on me.”
Winter retired in June 2022 and later passed away. Her loss was significant, and James recognised how much she had changed his life – through the support she gave and the independence he gained alongside her.
I hadn’t realised quite how much I depended on her until she wasn’t there. The house felt quieter, and life became hard again.
A new chapter with Dawn
In December 2023, James was partnered with his second assistance dog, a black Labrador named Dawn. Starting a new partnership after losing Winter brought mixed emotions. “Beginning again with a second dog was emotional. I felt like I was replacing Winter, but I came to see it wasn’t about replacing her. Dawn has helped me move forward while still holding on to everything Winter gave me.”
Dawn’s arrival has brought reassurance back into everyday life, both at home and out in public.
It was during the Placement Course with Dawn that James met Jess, who was also being matched with her second assistance dog. “We talked a lot about how much we missed having a dog and supported each other through the nerves of starting a second partnership.”
After the course, they stayed in touch and over time their friendship became something more. Both had found relationships difficult to navigate alongside their disabilities, but that shared experience meant they understood each other in a way few others did.
In 2025, Jess and her Canine Partner Honey moved to Shropshire to live with James, bringing both partnerships under one roof.
Life felt uncertain for James after his accident, but his two Canine Partners changed everything. Today, Dawn supports the life and independence that Winter helped him rebuild. Along the way, he also found Jess, and Honey, and together the family are looking toward a future that feels full of possibility.
