Her Majesty The Queen sends tails wagging in light of visit to Canine Partners’ Southern Centre

CELEBRATION is in the air and tails are wagging at Canine Partners as the charity imminently welcomes a very special guest to their Southern Training Centre in Heyshott, near Midhurst, West Sussex.

Her Majesty The Queen will visit the centre on Thursday 30th November for a visit where she will have the opportunity to meet staff, trustees, volunteers and beneficiaries of the charity. She will meet young dogs and their volunteer puppy parents, who take the puppies from the age of eight weeks, implementing a programme of basic training until the age of 12-14 months when they are ready to start assistance dog training. She will also meet some of the dogs who have just embarked on their advanced training at the centre and are learning the specific tasks their future partners might need.

The Queen will view a demonstration of the amazing tasks these outstanding and clever dogs carry out for disabled people across the UK, which includes opening and closing doors, helping dress and undress, picking up dropped items and even loading and unloading the washing machine or taking money from an ATM.

During the short visit, Her Majesty will also view the accommodation used by partners who are undertaking their onsite training course and beginning their incredible journey with their assistance dog. She will hear first-hand from two partners currently on their course how they are looking forward to taking their canine partners home and how their lives will be transformed by the amazing four-legged helpers.

Jackie Staunton, Canine Partners’ Chair of Trustees said: “It is such an honour for us to welcome The Queen to our training centre in West Sussex and we are delighted that she will be unveiling a plaque for us on the day too.

“We have just reached an outstanding landmark figure of 400 active partnerships across the UK, having created over 750 since we were founded in 1990. Her Majesty will unveil a plaque stating our achievements in 2017 in reaching our 750th partnership and this will bear as a fantastic memory of her visit. Much like when her grandson, Prince Harry, visited us in 2010.

“Our staff and volunteers are incredibly excited for Her Majesty’s visit as are our partners who fortunately for them are on their onsite training course at the time. It will certainly be a memorable time for them.

“We hope that The Queen will enjoy meeting everyone on the day and our dogs too, including one of our super cute and fluffy 11 week old pups.”

Canine Partners are trained to support disabled adults with a range of everyday tasks including picking up dropped items, opening doors, undressing and even using a washing machine. The dogs help boost disabled people’s independence and confidence.

For more information on Canine Partners, including volunteering opportunities, visit caninepartners.org.uk.

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