Canine Partners celebrates 25 years of transforming lives

This year assistance dog charity Canine Partners is celebrating 25 years of transforming the lives of people with physical disabilities.

The Charity was formed in 1990 and has to date partnered 580 assistance dogs across the UK.  These amazing dogs have changed the lives of those they are helping: restoring independence, giving family members peace of mind, allowing their disabled partners to return to work and even saving lives by responding in emergencies.

Canine Partners, which receives no government funding and relies solely on donations, trains dogs to perform tasks such as opening and closing doors, undressing, pressing buttons, retrieving items, unloading washing machines, taking card and cash from ATMs and other everyday tasks that disabled people find difficult, painful or impossible to do for themselves.

Kerenza Holzman, who has ME and Complex Regional Pain Syndrome, relies on her canine partner Whisky.

She said: “Canine Partners has changed my life in so many different ways, and been a massive influence on my immediate family. Whisky gives me confidence and makes me get outside and feel part of society again.”

At the beginning of 2015 there were 306 working partnerships across the UK, and at least 80 more disabled people will be paired with a canine partner this year. People with disabilities as diverse as MS, cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy, ME, spina bifida and Ehlers Danlos Syndrome benefit from the assistance and support of these dogs.  In addition, through the Charity’s connection with Help For Heroes,  there are canine partners helping former service personnel not only with their injuries but also to overcome the debilitating effect of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

Andy Cook, CEO at Canine Partners, said: “This year is very exciting for all of us at the Charity, as we aim to place another 80+ dogs with disabled people.  But to continue to grow and help as many applicants as possible, we need the public to support us.

“We are really hoping to expand during our 25th Anniversary year, but we can’t do it without the help and commitment of the public.”