Wendy and Indi 
Wendy, who has been disabled for six years and is a full-time wheelchair user, has had her life totally transformed since being partnered with Indi, a Labrador. She has constant pain and suffers from spasms in her hand, which Indi can 'rub better' by licking and nuzzling. He also reduces her anxiety as he can pull the emergency cord or bark to attract attention should she need help.
She says "Indi has helped to give me my life back. He's not just a working dog, he's now part of me. He's my hands, my confidence and my peace of mind. I feel incomplete without him. Indi helped Wendy regain her confidence to such an extent that she went back to work for the first time in eight years. Unfortunately, her symptoms have since deteriorated, but Wendy is still able to do talks about Canine Partners in her local area.
Wendy has recently become the first Partner to succeed in negotiating with her local Social Services an agreement to pay some of the costs of having a Canine Partner through the Direct Payments scheme.
Gareth and Hero
In 1995, when Gareth was 30, he had a terrible accident which left him a tetraplegic. He is in constant pain owing to the damage to his nervous system. In March 2000, he was partnered with Hero, a Golden Retriever nominated for several awards after saving Gareth's life when his wheelchair got stuck in muddy ground on a cold, wet day.
Gareth says "Hero helps me in so many ways, carrying out daily tasks that I couldn't do on my own. But I shall always be especially grateful to him for pulling me out of the mud to safety. He is a very special friend and we are inseparable."
Sarah and Hazel
When we first met 23-year-old Sarah, most of her days were spent alone at home. She could not even make a trip to the local shops on her own using her wheelchair because she experienced a great deal of pain when she tried to pick up and carry objects unaided. She told us "One of my main aims is that in the future I will be able to consider living alone with the minimum of support. My mother is my only carer and I would hope that my having the support and companionship of a dog would give her peace of mind to leave me alone more often".
Since being partnered with Golden Retriever, Hazel, Sarah's hopes and wishes have become a reality. She now has a job and her life has been completely transformed. With Hazel's assistance, she can go out on her own whenever she wants, meet new friends and do her own shopping. Her mother can rest assured that Hazel will always be there to give Sarah help when she needs it.
Gary and Gracie 
Gary was partnered with Gracie, a Golden Retriever who helps him carry out his hectic life as a busy QC, despite the fact that he is a wheelchair user as a result of multiple sclerosis.
"Disability is a presentation problem. People often don't know how to deal with someone in a wheelchair - especially if they are the boss or someone who commands such respect as a Judge. Gracie helps people get over that problem," he explains. "Wherever I go and however heavy my workload, Gracie is by my side all the time giving me the practical help, emotional support and love I've come to depend on."
James and Nemo
James Rose is a university student currently doing a degree in Broadcasting. He has Cerebral Palsy which affects his motor skills in the arms and legs meaning that he uses an electric wheelchair. He has been partnered with Nemo for nearly four years. When James is not living in the halls of residences at University College Falmouth in Cornwall, he lives at home with his parents and two sisters in Winchester near Southampton.
"Before Nemo came along, I was finding it hard to socialise with people my own age. People saw my ‘disability’ rather than ‘me’ and found it hard to approach me. Now with Nemo by my side, it is much easier to get into conversation and my social life and confidence levels are improving. Walking him has got me used to driving over rough terrain without being nervous about tipping over.
Nemo is such a quick learner and he can now open a door without his tuggy rope by jumping at the handle and walking backwards. He is so clever that in doing that he has mastered one of basic laws of physics!! He never stops surprising me - he’s a dude! Nemo is like a part of me now, and to be honest, I could never be able to live without him because (in the words of Tina Turner) he’s “simply the best”!"
To read more about how Nemo helps James, go to Nemo's own website: www.jamesrose.com/nemo
For more information about our partners and the work we do, download:
Partners Magazine 2003 or
Partners Magazine 2004 or
Partners Magazine 2005 or
Partners Magazine 2006
