PAWS FOR THOUGHT
Picture the scene. You're at home on your own, in your wheelchair, getting ready to go out. Then you drop your keys. With a huge amount of effort and at some risk of toppling over, you manage to pick them up. You wheel yourself to the door, struggle to get it open, manoeuvre yourself through and eventually manage to pull it shut behind you. Or you could be ill in bed, with only the television for company. Bored with one station you reach for the remote control to switch channels, drop it on the floor and it bounces away out of reach. You're doomed to watch the same channel until someone comes to the rescue.
Picture the scene again. This time help is at hand, in the form of a trained assistance dog. No matter how many times you ask, he or she will willingly pick up your keys, open and close the door, bring you the remote control or carry out a score of other tasks, whether you're at home, at work, out shopping or socialising.

Dogs for the Disabled, a national charity, trains specially selected dogs to live and work in partnership with disabled people. Using their natural pulling and retrieving instincts the dogs help with a range of practical tasks that their owners are unable to do for themselves, such as picking things up, emptying the washing machine and helping with dressing and undressing.
Since the Charity was formed in 1986 it has trained more than 200 dogs. Clients' disabilities range from spinal injuries and arthritis to MS and brittle bones, with a host of other conditions as well. Anton, a 6 year old yellow Labrador, lives with Gill & Byron in Nottingham. Byron contracted Polio when he was two and has been using a wheelchair since 1969. Gill was born with spina bifida and has been using a wheelchair since both her legs were amputated several years ago.
Client Sarah and her dog Jade, a Border Collie/Golden Retriever bitch, who was the 100th dog and is sponsored by snooker star Steve Davis. Anton is trained to fetch and carry for them, take the washing out of the machine and help put it on the line, take the phone to whoever needs it, pick things up off the floor and help Byron take off his socks. Says Byron: "He's just an amazing dog and a wonderful friend.

He has a wonderful nature and is friendly with everyone. He has taken the strain out of our lives".

Dogs for the Disabled receives no Government funding and relies entirely on donations and grants to continue its work.
donations@dogsforthedisabled.org
To find out more, write to
The Frances Hay Centre,
Blacklocks Hill,
Banbury,
Oxfordshire

or telephone 08700 776601.
The fax number is 08700 776601
and the e-mail address is info@dogsforthedisabled.org.
Alternatively, visit the web site at www.dogsforthedisabled.org

Client Sarah and her dog Jade, a Border Collie/Golden Retriever bitch, who was the 100th dog and is sponsored by snooker star Steve Davis.