Latest news with #assistanceDog
BBC News
03-07-2025
- General
- BBC News
'My assistance dog helps me be part of life'
"When you're dealing with a lot of changes in your life, the last thing you think about is getting a dog."But being paired with Rolo, a dedicated assistance dog, in 2021 has been invaluable for Andrew Miles, who suffered a spinal cord injury in a car crash in Brazil a decade black labrador helps the 70-year-old, who now uses a wheelchair, with a range of day-to-day tasks - from picking up dropped keys to moving clothes in and out of the washing Miles, who lives in Derby, said Rolo also helped him be "part of life", but the charity that brought them together has temporarily closed its waiting list to new applicants due to a lack of volunteers. Canine Partners, based in Leicestershire, has now issued an urgent appeal for people to come forward to train puppies who will go on to become assistance dogs for people with physical Miles had not considered an assistance dog until a chance encounter with another wheelchair user and their canine companion while shopping in the Meteor Centre in said: "We were chatting, comparing notes because we were both in chairs and the penny dropped, because I'd never thought about it." Mr Miles applied to the charity but, with lockdowns due to the Covid-19 pandemic, he was unable to spend the required two weeks at its base in Osgathorpe, near Canine Partners moved Rolo into his home and visited daily for training, and the two have never looked Miles said: "He's trained to pick things up for me - my keys, my gloves. "If I'm out in the workshop doing some jobs, he'll pick up a screwdriver or something."And for me, it may sound quite a minor thing for the onlooker, but actually when you're in a wheelchair and you drop something, it's a real pain."Rolo also opens and closes doors for Mr Miles but said he provided more than practical help."When you're involved in a life-changing accident or you have an illness that comes and changes your ability to be mobile you sometimes sort of step back and let life go by," he explained."Because I've got a dog, I've got responsibility. A canine partner help you be part of life. They don't let you watch the world go by." Canine Partners had about 100 people on its waiting list when it closed to new volunteers look after puppies until they are about 15 months old, teaching them basic obedience and socialisation dogs are then paired with their new companions, who they will live with, and begin specialist training, which costs about £50,000 per dog trainer Steph Dainty said: "Volunteers really do start the dog's first chapter off for us and get them to the amazing standard they need to be to then come in to do the assistance dog stuff."They can really go on to do some amazing things. "People are always shocked by what our dogs can do - and then want one for themselves."Lucy Eldred, chief executive of the charity, added: "Other than the time and the commitment, you don't need any specialist skills or experience."We're looking for anything that anyone would offer any normal dog in puppyhood, which is a loving, caring home and basic obedience and basic socialisation."
BBC News
16-06-2025
- General
- BBC News
Mother plans to run around Cornwall coast in six days
A woman from Cornwall is embarking on a challenge, running the whole length of the Cornish coast path within six days, to raise money to pay for an autism assistance dog for her Ward was due to set of from Smeaton's Tower in Plymouth at 06:00 BST on Monday before covering the 288 miles (463km) to arrive at Bude Ward said having an assistance dog would greatly benefit 25-year-old Bryher, who finds it difficult to go outside alone, but £20,000 was needed to obtain one. Bryher described her mother "a bit of a nutter" for undertaking such a trek, but that, if successful, getting the animal would be "life-changing". Ms Ward said: "As a family, we have about £5,000 of savings, so we are looking to fundraise the remaining £15,000. "The biggest thing about this dog is that it's really going to give Bryher independence. "She is very reliant on me in terms of going out. Having the dog there will make quite a bit of difference, giving her an ability to get out and about and just feel like she is partaking in life again. Hannah said Bryher had "really struggled" for the last 10 said: "We've tried various different things as a family. We are very much believers in positive attitudes and we've discovered with certain things that can only get you so far."She's continually had knockbacks and difficulties. We just thought we had to try something new and something different to hopefully get her to get back to university - this is her goal."She managed to do a year, but it was a case of survival rather than thriving. "Academically, she is absolutely incredible; it was the social aspects and living on site and living with others she found incredibly difficult."This is about her trying to achieve her dream as well, which is to finally graduate." At home in Week-St-Mary, Cornwall, Bryher said she was in awe of her mother's "unwavering" said: "I think it's incredible. I also think she's a bit of a nutter."When we realised getting a dog was potentially an option, we were so excited. Then we saw how much it would be, for me it was just game over; it's just not going to happen."But... one morning she just came down and said: 'I'm going to run around the coast of Cornwall.'"I'm so grateful because, health-wise, I'm not in a position to do anything myself, which is hard. But mum has made me feel so included in this whole thing as well and I just really hope that people will support her." Bryher said the last eight years had been incredibly difficult and an assistant dog would give her independence and support. She said: "I have two disabilities both of which are invisible. "The second disability I have is ME [myalgic encephalomyelitis, also known as chronic fatigue syndrome]. "By having the dog, it almost signals that there is something more going on, and I think if [people] see something more is going on, what does it matter if I just try and be myself?"I really think it can make the world of difference and hopefully it's going to allow me to graduate, and I can't put into words what that day would mean if I could do that."It would be life-changing," she said.
