In 2006 after nearly six months in hospital in terrible pain, an infection destroyed part of my spine, and with it my mobility, my independence and my self reliance. It left me with severe chronic neuropathic pain, numbness and tingling in my arms and legs, anxiety and depression (and took nearly 2 inches of height away). Suddenly, where I had been the helper I now needed to ask for help. I felt lost, hopeless, and very very *disabled*.  That suddenly changed when Taska, a specially trained assistance dog, was placed with me through Canine Partners - an amazing charity that trains dogs to help disabled people. www.caninepartners.org.uk

Let me tell you how she changed my life. 

At the end of the first week I had her I wrote "She makes me so happy... I feel bits of the old me, well packed in cotton wool and hidden away in the "inaccessible to broken people" folder, coming back." As time has passed, the old me is now back and although I still have the physical problems, my emotions are healing and I am no longer so terribly unhappy.

I didn't realise how unhappy I had become...until friends told me that they didn’t even want to spend time with me because I was always in such a dark place. Taska is helping me find my way back... Well done, Taska. Good girl. I wish she could understand how much I adore her.  

As I write this, she is leaning against my leg, every so often looking up at me just to make sure everything is ok. We are together 24 hours a day- she is so devoted, but she's no robot- we play, she rolls in mud, chases balls... she makes me laugh. We are taught that dogs- even working dogs- need down time, so a big part of our lives is play- and even that helps me. It's a win win situation.

These dogs are amazing... and the people who prepare and support them are even more so. They ask so little of me as a client of their charity- compared to what they have given me, they ask absolutely nothing at all. They only ask the same as any person who owns a pet would need to provide. But, think having a pet is the same as a canine partner? Not at all. Let me explain.

The next time you go through a door, or pick something up from the floor, or get something off a low shelf, think about how you would cope without the ability to do this... who would help? How alone would you feel when friends left but the [pain stayed? When you were tired of asking for help, and the pain meant you couldn’t do things you wanted to?

What if there was no one to help? Worse, no one to listen? Could your pet get your keys off the floor? Get your credit card off the supermarket lino? Give your wallet to a cashier? Grab bacon off a low supermarket shelf and bring it to you unscathed? Get your clothes from the washer? Open a door? Close a door? Hand you a towl when you're in the tub? Call the lift? Pull up the covers on the bed? Help make the bed? Take off your shoes and help you put your slippers on? Help you take off or put on your coat? Bring you the phone? Find the remote control? Taska can. That’s why she’s no pet. She’s a first class working girl, even though one of her jobs is to snooze under my desk until I need her.

In addition to all these, she also keeps me company, helps me get exercise, keeps me calm, soothes my pain, and can get help when I need it. Most importantly, she helps me be seen as a person, not a wheelchair or a scary “different” person who is too different to talk to. People see her, and suddenly I am approachable.

Taz makes life liveable again, all because her sponsor worked hard to raise £15000 through the Colour Wheel Appeal to make her possible. There are many volunteers and helpers, workers and trainers, but without the money it all stops. Please, can’t you see how important it is that this grows? There are 10.5 million disabled people in the UK- thousands of them could benefit from a dog like Taska- helping them to live, work and enjoy life more independently. Yet, less than 250 dogs like Taska are in place: the charity is developing a new centre to double its ability to train dogs and develop partnerships, but it needs money to grow. What if someone you loved needed this kind of help? Wouldn’t you hope that someone had made sure there were resources to make sure that dog was there? Are you someone who can help?

Please consider giving even a few pence to Canine Partners. Maybe times are hard for you and you'd like to give but can't - that’s okay and I hope things get better for you- but at least spread the word about the magic of the purple pack. Maybe someone is in a difficult situation like I was, and you telling them about Canine Partners could be the thing that changes their life. Finding out about Canine Partners could make a real difference by giving someone who needs help the chance to have help, but with independence: "Don't worry, I've got my dog, we can do it myself"...

If you or someone you care about might benefit from this kind of help, contact Canine Partners. They are so dedicated and work so hard to help us-  I have yet to encounter anyone there who didn't genuinely care, from the Chief Executive to the Director of Operations to the volunteer gardener who makes everything look so nice. Its a wonderful charity run by and supported by people who both love dogs and care about people, and as a result work very hard to make things possible for people who need them.

I didn't think I would ever need this help...  I was like you, going to work, going out, holiday here, car payments there then overnight- life changed. Would you pay a few pounds to recover lost confidence and self esteem? Canine Partners can give that kind of meaning to your donation- the only help they have is the money given by the public. Can you help them help others? You can find out more at. www.caninepartners.org.uk. Thank you.

By the way, I need to tell you that Canine Partners didn’t ask me to post this, and they haven’t approved the text. I am doing this myself, because I am so grateful I want to help others have the gift I've been given. If you need a speaker, and think either my story or another about how these amazing dogs change lives would be interesting (or you just want an excuse to get to see one of our amazing dogs) please contact Canine Partners. Thanks again- I’d write more, but Taska just brought me her bowl... some things can’t wait!