Canine Partners.
| Published: 28th February 2008 18:56 |
Most people who own pets will have an appreciation of the great pleasure they can provide. By offering companionship and the opportunity for social interaction they can greatly enhance anyone's quality of life.
Very rarely, I come across a patient who provides a great deal more. "Byron" is a very special dog who enhances his owners' lives (Mr and Mrs Cross) in many different ways. I have met Kate and Stuart many times over the years at the Fairfield Veterinary Centre as they have ably demonstrated their commitment to responsible pet ownership by caring for their other dogs' health in every way possible.
During that time I have been witness to Mrs Cross' failing physical health as a result of a rare orthopaedic condition and the demands that has put upon herself and her husband .
Very recently however they acquired a completely different type of dog. "Byron" is a highly trained assistance dog who came from "Canine Partners" a progressive charity committed to transforming the lives of people with disabilities. Through 18 months of training "Byron" is able to pick up and carry crutches, fetch tins/packets from supermarket shelves, hand over the purse at the checkout, open and close doors, pull off various items of clothing such as socks, trousers and coats as well as putting them in the laundry basket, fetch shoes from other rooms when required, collect the post and carry items up stairs (hot water bottle for example which he also puts in to the bed!). Crucially, "Byron" has also been trained to get help if Kate has a fall and will bring the phone to her in emergency situations.
All of this also serves to support Kate's confidence and independence 
enabling her to carry out daily tasks such as shopping in Hinckley on her own rather than having to ask someone else to do it for her or waiting for her husband to go with her........an added bonus for Stuart! Burdened with the onerous responsibility of "Byron's" general health I am very relieved to report that "so far so good!"
Anyone interested in the marvellous work of the charity "Canine Partners" should visit their excellent website at http://www.caninepartners.co.uk/ At a time when many UK Police forces are reducing the numbers of trained police dogs it is gratifying to know that other organisations recognise the potential of our canine companions!
Terry Dunne BVMS, Cert SAO, MRCVS
http://www.fairfieldvets.co.uk/
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