Two Labradors will start their careers as assistance dogs 18 months after Jerry Green Dog Rescue offered the puppies to Canine Partners.

Last year the pups were donated to the national charity which trains dogs to support people with disabilities so they can enjoy greater independence and a better quality of life.

The dogs spent a year being socialised with puppy parents to teach them basic core skills and obedience before receiving advanced training from Canine Partners, who are based in West Sussex.

Rex has been partnered with Kathy aged 54 from Suffolk; she is living with fibromyalgia and hypermobility syndrome and is a wheelchair user.

The chocolate Labrador has been trained to help her with practical tasks such as opening and closing doors and cupboards, getting undressed, pressing buttons and switches, unloading washing machines and tumble driers and fetching help in an emergency.

Black Labrador, Rizzo will be partnered with his new owner from the Canine Partner’s waiting list once he completes his advanced training.

Rolo, the third Labrador, was rehomed earlier in the year after he was unable to continue the training due to health reasons.

“This is the first time Canine Partners have adopted dogs from Jerry Green Dog Rescue and we were delighted by the charity’s offer of support,” said Julie Berkley, Canine Partners’ Manager of Puppy Supply and Training.

“Our canine partners provide practical day-to-day assistance with tasks that may be difficult, painful or impossible for their disabled owners to perform. They also offer companionship, unconditional love and affection which is so unique to dogs.

“Labradors and retrievers are best suited to this kind of work as it harnesses their natural abilities, so we were very pleased to be able to take these three Labrador puppies from Jerry Green Dog Rescue and to show that rescue dogs can make fantastic assistance dogs.”

Shelley Wooding, Head of Welfare and Development for Jerry Green Dog Rescue, said: “We’re delighted that the Labrador puppies, which Canine Partners adopted from our charity last year, are making a real difference to peoples’ lives.

“We’re so proud that Rex and Rizzo have learnt how to help people who struggle with basic tasks on a day-to-day basis and that Rolo has been happily rehomed with a new owner.

“This was the first time we offered dogs up for adoption to Canine Partners, which we were happy to do because we know they will be well loved and looked after by their owners.”

If you would like to adopt a dog from Jerry Green Dog Rescue visit the website www.jerrygreendogs.org.uk and make contact with your nearest rescue centre.

For further information about Canine Partners, please visit www.caninepartners.org.uk.

ENDS

Notes to editors

Jerry Green Dog Rescue was founded in 1961 in Broughton, Lincolnshire and is now one of the UK’s largest dog rescue charities. It has rescue centres in five locations:

• Broughton near Brigg, North Lincolnshire
• Algarkirk near Boston, Lincolnshire
• Blidworth near Mansfield, Nottinghamshire
• Gilberdyke, East Yorkshire
• Thirsk, North Yorkshire

Jerry Green Dog Rescue has a caring ethos which puts the dogs in its care at the centre of everything it does. It also operates a policy whereby prospective adopters are introduced to dogs in a neutral environment away from the kennel, resulting in less stress for the dog and increasing the chances of permanent homes being found.

The adoption process at Jerry Green Dog Rescue involves a number of introductory visits and the rehoming team provide pre and post adoption support to ensure the move to the dog’s new home is as smooth as possible.

The Charity receives no Government or National Lottery funding. This means it is dependent on the generosity of public and corporate donors/sponsors.

About Canine Partners

Canine Partners is a registered charity that assists people with disabilities to enjoy a greater independence and quality of life through the provision of specially trained dogs, whose well-being is a key consideration.

More than 1.2 million people in the UK use a wheelchair, and a significant number of those would benefit from a canine partner. The dogs are carefully matched to the applicant’s needs and lifestyle, no matter how challenging. They are trained to help with everyday tasks such as opening and shutting doors, unloading the washing machine, picking up dropped items, pressing buttons and switches and getting help in an emergency. The Charity is working in partnership with Help for Heroes, and aims to train dogs to meet the needs of people with even the most complex disabilities including members of HM Armed Forces.

These life transforming dogs also provide practical, physiological, psychological and social benefits including increased independence and confidence as well as increased motivation and self-esteem. A canine partner also brings companionship, a sense of security and increases social interaction.

Canine Partners receives no government funding and is wholly dependent on public donations and legacies.

For media information please contact:
Jerry Green
Sarah Howells
Shooting Star PR
01522 528540
sarah@weareshootingstar.co.uk
@sarahhowellspr
[jerrygreen56assistancedogs]

Canine Partners
Jenny Moir
01730 716001
07889056692
jennym@caninepartners.org.uk
facebook.com/caninepartners 
twitter.com/canine_partners