Have you got what it takes to become a Canine Partners “puppy parent”?
Byron the Yellow Labrador has completely transformed the life of Kate Cross. Kate has a medical condition which not only means that she must use a wheelchair, but her joints also dislocate very easily, causing immense pain. Simple tasks such as trying to pick up something from the floor or from a shelf can cause dislocations.
Since last September this no longer happens as Kate now has a four-footed helper whom she describes as “my new shadow”. “Byron” has been specially trained by the charity Canine Partners, to assist Kate in a number of different ways, including picking up a variety of items large and small, opening cupboards and the washing machine, pressing light switches and lift buttons, helping pick up shopping from supermarket shelves, handing over the purse at the checkout, helping Kate to undress, and much more besides. “Wherever I go in the house he is always a couple of steps behind, ready to pick up anything I drop – from big things like my crutches to something as small as a penny coin. His tail wags the whole time. Since Byron was placed with me last September my shoulder dislocations have reduced from several a day – to none at all.”
Canine Partners is overwhelmed by applications from disabled people wishing to be partnered by dogs such as “Byron” – normally Labradors and Golden Retrievers. But the Charity’s ability to meet this demand is severely at risk due to a shortage of so-called “Puppy Parents”. Andy Cook, Director of Operations at Canine Partners, expressed his concerns: “The situation is extremely serious. If we can’t find more people who are willing to foster our young dogs during the first 12 months of their lives, we simply won’t be able to provide more disabled people with assistance dogs like “Byron”. We are desperate for volunteers to come forward and help us. We provide the puppy, all the puppy’s food, expenses plus all the advice and training you could possibly need. We’ll even find someone to look after the puppy for you if you go away on holiday. We just need people who have the time and commitment to help train our puppies and who will get a kick out of doing something useful to change the lives of people with disabilities.”
Do you fit the criteria?
· Are you at home most of the day?
· Can you attend our weekly puppy classes?
· Do you have a secure dog-friendly garden?
· Do you have the stamina to manage a young active puppy?
· Are you prepared to follow Canine Partners advice?
Puppy Parents are required for the Hampshire, West Sussex, Bedford, Hull, IOW, Cheshire and East Sussex areas. If you think you have what it takes to become a puppy parent or you’d just like to find out more about it, please call Sandra Parton on 01730 716030.
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