Disclaimer: This feature article was published in Issue 6 (Sep/Oct 2004) of e-motion magazine. All details correct at time of going to press. South West Trains and The Illustrated London News Group will not be held responsible for any information which may be out-of-date or where details, such as telephone numbers, email address and so on, may have changed.

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Canine Partners

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Since 1991, Sussex-based charity Canine Partners has been training dogs to help those with conditions including Multiple Sclerosis and Parkinson's Disease, as well as amputees and accident victims. From loading a washing machine to retrieving money from cash machines, the dogs' remarkable abilities allow their "Partners" the freedom to lead as normal lives as possible.

However, the benefits of a Canine Partners' dog are not just limited to assistance on a physical level. They also encourage social interaction and increase self-confidence.

For the puppies whose aptitude marks them out as potential canine partners, working life begins at eight weeks old. A gentle nature, calm temperament, natural curiosity and a love of people are essential attributes. The dogs, which are cared for initially by volunteer "puppy parents", attend weekly training sessions and are introduced to a variety of environments, including shopping centres, supermarkets and train stations. They are taught to use their initiative and problem-solve and, by the time their education is complete–approximately 18 months later– each dog can respond to around 100 commands.

Each year, more than 150 people apply to receive a Canine Partner. The assessment and selection process is rigorous as it's essential to match the right person to the right dog. Once successfully partnered, they must attend an intensive residential course to learn how to care for their dogs.

To date, Canine Partners has given dogs to more than 100 people and the success stories, such as that of South West Trains passenger Allen Parton, are remarkable. Allen, from Clanfield in Hampshire, owes his life to his Partner, a golden Labrador called Endal, who made headlines when he fetched help after Allen was knocked over by a car. "Endal never judges me or turns away because of my condition," says Allen, who suffered serious injuries in a car accident. "Every day we learn another way in which we can work together as a team. There seem to be no limits to what we can achieve."

With millions of people in the UK living with a disability, the value of the work done by Canine Partners cannot be underestimated. The problem, however, is not a shortage of demand; it's one of funds. It costs £9,850 to train each puppy and a further £3,750 to select and assess each applicant. In addition, the charity provides a further £8,000 in aftercare for each partnership.

Canine Partners receives no government funding and is wholly reliant upon public donations and schemes such as Give As You Earn (GAYE), which allows any UK employee paid under the Pay As You Earn (PAYE) scheme to make tax-free donations direct from their salary to the charity of their choice. So, for every £10 pledged, the employee is deducted just £7.80.

At South West Trains, employees have donated more than £10,000 through the GAYE scheme since April this year alone, with Canine Partners one of the charities to benefit.

"GAYE is a safe and secure way to help Canine Partners. We can see how much employees have pledged and this enables us to plan how many puppies we can train," explains Karen O'Donoghue, Corporate and Trust Manager of Canine Partners. This certainly has struck a chord with Ian Grimmett, who is familiar with GAYE through his work in the payroll department at South West Trains. He was so impressed by the dogs' abilities at a recent Canine Partners open day, that he is hoping he can encourage even more South West Trains employees to support the charity's work.