Support Dogs transform and save lives.

They provide Disability Assistance Dogs (DADs), Seizure Alert Dogs, and Autism Support Dogs. Each dog is tailor trained for its owner.

The DADs support their owners at home and out and about, fetching, carrying, lifting, picking up dropped items, even loading and unloading the waching machine. They also raise the alarm in an emergency. They become a best friend and life saver for people who also often become socially excluded.

The Seizure Alert dogs are 100% affective, and can sense a seizure in their owner up to 55mins in advance, allowing their owner to get prepared and safe.

Alex, aged 7, has an Autism Support Dog. Alex's autism is quite severe and he hasn't developed at a normal pace, his speech is limited, he doesn't understand the world as we do, and can be a danger to himself if out and about due to his love of wheels - he will try and get to moving cars in the road to touch the wheels! Alex's safety comes first, this meant as he was getting older he was rarely going out and had no real friends. Then came Lucie, a beautiful black labrador trained Autism Support Dog - who transformed Alex's life. With Lucie by his side Alex now goes out, and is totally absorbed by her; his parents can take him into the supermarket - for the first time! His mum calls Lucie 'Alex's first true friend'. You can read more about their story here: http://luciedog.blogspot.co.uk/

I've also met John, life-serving member of the Army, wounded in Northern Ireland and now living with MS. As the illness progresses John is less able to do everyday things, and before his assistance dog Blue walked into his life was finding things harder socially, "people don't notice you in a wheelchair strangely enough!" says John. But with Blue by his side John can now do things around the house, Blue can load the washing machine, turn it on, and empty it when done! He also helps John get undressed by pulling off jumpers and shirts, gloves and socks, and he's a crowd puller as whenever they're out everyone now wants to stop and talk :)

Grainne's had her dog Tori for 3 years, trained to do similar things to Blue, Tori can open and close doors, pick up dropped items, and as Grainne becomes less abled Tori will be trained to do more things including using a cash-point!

Cassie was Sylvia's pet dog for many years and was trained up as an assistance dog following a nasty car accident that left Sylvia unable to walk unaided.

There's many more stories to share. I've met a lady local to me who's had Support Dogs for quite a few years. We're possibly going to do a local news story so watch this space for details!

Support Dogs is one of those charities that needs the awareness as much as the donations. It's like we have a secret world of hundreds of thousands of poeple living every day with massive challenges due to severe illness and disability, society on the whole is not geared up to help them and so their struggle becomes unnecessarily even greater and they become socially excluded too. Support Dogs' motto 'Transforming Lives' is so true. They also help to save NHS costs and give new life to people and the dogs themselves. Thank you, your support is greatly appreciated.

Mel x

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