Disability Assistance
Our disability assistance dogs are trained to support their owners by carrying out tasks tailored to their needs such as dressing and undressing, loading and unloading the washing machine, and raising the alarm. They also enable clients to lead more sociable, independent lives.
Support Dogs’ aim is to improve the quality of life and independence of people with a wide range of physical disabilities by training their own pet dog as a disability assistance dog.
Our disability assistance dogs are trained to assist and support their owners by carrying out tasks which are specifically tailored to their needs, for example:
- Opening and closing doors
- Picking up objects
- Raising the alarm
Because the resources we have limit us to training only 35 dogs a year, training spaces are allocated on a first come that qualify get the allocations.
Support Paws also facilitate greater confidence for a more active life and vital social interaction. An assistance dog is often often a catalyst for conversation, meeting new people and increasing their owner’s interaction with their community. This further increases confidence and self-esteem.
This increased independence also has a positive impact on our clients’ relationships with friends and family members. It often releases family members from their roles as primary carers and in many cases can enable them and the client to return to paid employment.
To read more about our disability assistance programme download our information pack using the button below. This provides information to enable you to assess whether you are eligible to apply.