Canine Partners trains assistance dogs to help people with complex physical disabilities with everyday tasks such as opening and closing doors, unloading the washing machine, picking up dropped items, pressing buttons and switches and getting help in an emergency. They can even help people to get undressed and remove a card from an ATM.
These life transforming dogs also provide practical, physiological, psychological and social benefits including increased independence, confidence, motivation and self-esteem. A canine partner also brings companionship and a sense of security.
A grant of £2,000 from The John Salmon Fund was put towards the construction of a residential training facility where Canine Partners’ clients are bonded and trained to use their assistance dogs. The dogs are trained by the charity to give people with a wide range of complex physical disabilities greater independence and a better quality of life. The dogs are carefully matched to the applicant’s needs and lifestyle.
Having their own accommodation for clients to use during their training course to receive a canine partner has made a huge difference, as the charity no longer needs to hire hotel rooms and applicants can fully enjoy the experience of learning about a canine partner in calm surroundings.
The new facility has already helped 11 beneficiaries, and will continue to serve Canine Partners’ clients for many years to come, allowing them to train more people each year to benefit from an assistance dog.
