One reason why our vet invited me to take some photos at the Canine Partners' cream tea was that she knows my passion for photography and in particular for portraiture. She thought I might find some willing strangers there, which indeed I did and I am pleased to have had that opportunity.
As it happened, I had not long arrived at the venue when I met Martin and his canine partner, Keith. I cannot now remember exactly how the conversation started but it probably had something to do with those appealing labrador eyes!
Martin explained that he has used a motorized wheelchair for around 20 years and started to find that he was becoming increasingly isolated, reluctant to go out and, in turn, his family were becoming prisoners too.
He works as a lecturer in engineering in a further education college in Sussex and began to realise that, other than going to work, he was just staying indoors, notably spending the 6 weeks of the summer holidays in the house.
Thus, about two and a half years ago, Martin contacted Canine Partners and now has a devoted and skilled four-legged companion. Keith came to live with him already equipped with basic training but has now learnt new skills from Martin's own commands and needs. He uses his nose, paws, mouth and teeth for various tasks.
At work, in the college, Keith operates the lift for Martin using his nose to press the door buttons. He keeps the classroom tidy by gathering up any litter left on the floor and putting it into the bin.
The printer in the classroom where Martin teaches is very awkward for him to access so he trained Keith, by commands, to retrieve the printed sheets from the printer and to bring them to him. But now, Keith has learnt the different sounds of the printer and knows by himself when it has finished. He can retrieve up to 30 printed sheets at one time for Martin, taking the edge of the paper out of the printer with his teeth and carrying them in his mouth without damaging them.
At home, when Martin sits down in his armchair after work, Keith takes off his shoes and socks for him, fetches him the remote control and the emergency 'phone and then takes himself off to his bed to have a rest.
But it's not unknown for him to reappear later in the evening to get and present the remote control once more to Martin and to then sit down and look very pointedly at the box where the doggy treats are kept.
He also lets the cat in and out of the back door. He uses the tug to pull the door handle, backs up to make space for the opening door, and for the cat, and then pushes the door closed behind her.
(I have an idea that Martin said that Keith sometimes makes the cat wait outside for a bit in the rain to show her who is boss - but I could find no reference to that in my notes so I think I surely must have dreamed it.)
Martin told me that in the nearly 3 years that Keith has been with him, his life has changed phenomenally and he even now has confidence to do bits and pieces in the house and garden. He says that Keith is always thinking, always trying to work things out.
I've known about assistance dogs, of course, but to hear the heartening story of this canine partner has been a revelation.
http://365project.org/quietpurplehaze/add-ins/2016-09-13
you would probably not have had such a conversation if it wasn't for you stranger series
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Ann, thank you for your interest in my Canine Partners' posts. And yes, the news is invariably flagging up disaster.....I liked the cat story (Keith didn't tell it to me himself of course!!!)