'My assistance dog helps me be part of life'

"When you're dealing with a lot of changes in your life, the last thing you think about is getting a dog."

But being paired with Rolo, a dedicated assistance dog, in 2021 has been invaluable for Andrew Miles, who suffered a spinal cord injury in a car crash in Brazil a decade ago.

The black labrador helps the 70-year-old, who now uses a wheelchair, with a range of day-to-day tasks - from picking up dropped keys to moving clothes in and out of the washing machine.

Mr Miles, who lives in Derby, said Rolo also helped him be "part of life", but the charity that brought them together has temporarily closed its waiting list to new applicants due to a lack of volunteers.

Canine Partners, based in Leicestershire, has now issued an urgent appeal for people to come forward to train puppies who will go on to become assistance dogs for people with physical disabilities.

Mr Miles had not considered an assistance dog until a chance encounter with another wheelchair user and their canine companion while shopping in the Meteor Centre in Derby.

He said: "We were chatting, comparing notes because we were both in chairs and the penny dropped, because I'd never thought about it."

Mr Miles applied to the charity but, with lockdowns due to the Covid-19 pandemic, he was unable to spend the required two weeks at its base in Osgathorpe, near Loughborough.

Instead, Canine Partners moved Rolo into his home and visited daily for training, and the two have never looked back.

Mr Miles said: "He's trained to pick things up for me - my keys, my gloves.

"If I'm out in the workshop doing some jobs, he'll pick up a screwdriver or something.

"And for me, it may sound quite a minor thing for the onlooker, but actually when you're in a wheelchair and you drop something, it's a real pain."

Rolo also opens and closes doors for Mr Miles but said he provided more than practical help.

"When you're involved in a life-changing accident or you have an illness that comes and changes your ability to be mobile you sometimes sort of step back and let life go by," he explained.

"Because I've got a dog, I've got responsibility. A canine partner help you be part of life. They don't let you watch the world go by."

Canine Partners had about 100 people on its waiting list when it closed to new applicants.

Its volunteers look after puppies until they are about 15 months old, teaching them basic obedience and socialisation skills.

The dogs are then paired with their new companions, who they will live with, and begin specialist training, which costs about £50,000 per animal.

Assistance dog trainer Steph Dainty said: "Volunteers really do start the dog's first chapter off for us and get them to the amazing standard they need to be to then come in to do the assistance dog stuff.

"They can really go on to do some amazing things.

"People are always shocked by what our dogs can do - and then want one for themselves."

Lucy Eldred, chief executive of the charity, added: "Other than the time and the commitment, you don't need any specialist skills or experience.

"We're looking for anything that anyone would offer any normal dog in puppyhood, which is a loving, caring home and basic obedience and basic socialisation."

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