You don’t need telling that it’s a busy and stressful time of year, especially if you have family to look after.
No wonder so many of us will be rushed off our feet. Or indeed our paws.
I’m thinking of dogs like the lovely May here whose duties include opening and shutting doors, unloading the washing machine, picking up dropped items, pressing buttons and switches, and if need be getting help in an emergency.
There’s the Christmas shopping to attend to, and that requires money. Here’s May using the ATM.
photo by Canine Partners
All the food to buy.
photo by Canine Partners
Not to mention sorting out the Christmas post.
photo by Canine Partners
Canine Partners like May are trained to do a range of different tasks, but they’re intelligent and can adapt to the person’s lifestyle. In a survey, over a third of their humans say they rely on them to tidy toys away. Some dogs even let the cat in and out. And in and out again.
And they do all this without a murmur of complaint, which can’t be said of most humans.
I don’t know about you, but I think May deserves something in her Christmas stocking.
If you don’t need an assistance dog yourself, you can still adopt one. Might even make a good last minute Christmas present for someone.
Have a merry Christmas, one and all.
You may like to know…
Canine Partners assists people with a range of disabilities to enjoy a greater independence and quality of life through the provision of specially trained dogs.
For example, the charity works in partnership with Help for Heroes, aiming to train dogs to meet the needs of people with even the most complex disabilities. 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.
Canine Partners is a registered charity and receives no government funding. It depends wholly on public donations and legacies.
That’ll be you and me.
Easy tweet: “Christmas stress? http://wp.me/p3uiuG-17k Some busy feet barely touch the ground via @DrCarolCooper & help from @canine_partners”
Pills & Pillow-Talk 
It’s amazing what these dogs can do. Lifechanging for the human in the partnership.
Isn’t it just? They do so much for the human’s social life too.
Dogs are so much more intelligent than we give them credit for. Mind, some breeds are cleverer than others – I can’t see my tiny-headed greyhound using an ATM. As for letting the cat in and out – well, it would be a one-way trip for the cat!
They’re amazingly sensitive too.
Fantastic dogs 🙂
Aren’t they just?
That’s really useful information thank you. I’m applying to Canine Partners but keep avoiding it because it’s difficult to separate my physical and psychological symptoms.
Thank you. May the new year bring you health and happiness.