Ability Dogs 4 Young People trains assistance dogs for children and young people living on the Isle of Wight with physical and mental difficulties.
Each dog is trained to meet the particular needs of a young person in order to enhance their independence and increase their wellbeing. But now the charity desperately needs to recruit more volunteer puppy parents, to help train the next intake of assistance dogs.
The pandemic made it very difficult for the charity to recruit enough puppy parents to meet the demand. The waiting list of young people in need of an assistance dog is continuing to grow. With at least 12 puppies required this year alone.
Puppy parents will be given lots of help and guidance, and will attend weekly puppy classes. At 18 months, the now young dogs will hone their skills with qualified trainers, before being matched with a young person.
CEO Carol Court said: “We are a small Island charity and we like to take on 12 new baby puppies each year. The training takes about two years, so if we are not able to find puppy parents for them all, we will not be able to help as many disabled young people in two-years’ time. Having volunteers is critical to the work of the charity here on the Island.
“Being a volunteer puppy parent is definitely hard work and needs people who are very dedicated, have enough time and energy to devote to the puppy, and have the right home setup. However, it is very rewarding.
“People often worry about ‘giving the puppy back’. Although there is no doubt that this is the hard part (we do give you another puppy to help), seeing the puppy you nurtured go on to change the life of a disabled young person far outweighs that pain”.
Izzy tells us about how her independence has changed with her Ability Dog, Luna.
Luna was matched with Izzy in March 2019 she moved in three months later—a year before the Covid crisis. Luna was named by GKN in East Cowes whose employees’ charitable fund has supported the charity since 2014.
“My name is Izzy and I am 26. I suffer with a condition called Ehlers Danlos Syndrome, which affects lots of different body systems and has severely impeded my independence. One major aspect affecting my independence is regular episodes of passing out, which can occur several times a week and without warning.
“My Ability Dog is Luna, and she is a three-year old chocolate Labrador. Luna comes out with me, so I no longer need another person to accompany me. She gives me confidence and makes me safer. She has a special jacket with an SOS pocket containing an information card on what to do if somebody finds me collapsed.
“Wherever I am she also helps by picking things up off the floor for me. This helps because bending can be a trigger for me passing out, and because I find this difficult when my joints are very painful or dislocated.
“We are currently in the process of training Luna to press an alert button when I pass out, which will send a text to get me help. This is really exciting because it opens up the possibility of me being able to safely move away from home. I am so grateful for having been given Luna – she is the biggest blessing. She has improved my independence and confidence already, and she gives me much more hope for my future. She also knows when I am having an extra difficult day and will come and sit on my (always cold) feet, or lie with me when I’m having a nap. We have just graduated with a Masters in Marine Biology, from the University of Southampton, and we are pursuing PhD studies next!”
Dogs like Luna are an invaluable support to children and young people with a range of disabilities. But training them takes time, love and care. If you think you’ve got what it takes to help train an assistance dog, welcoming them into your own home while you do, then here’s how you can get in touch. Tel: 01983 216246. Email: info@abilitydogs 4yp.org.uk. www.abilitydogs4yp.org.uk
Wight Doodles presents An Evening of Clairvoyance with Steve Holbrooke. Ryde Castle Hotel on 24th March. Raffle and bar. Doors open at 6.30pm for a 7.30pm start. Tickets £15 on 07772852911 or 07837175215. All profits to Ability Dogs 4 Young People. www.stevenholbrook.co.uk.
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