Father and Daughter

Anna and Angie

Angie is an unusual Canine Partner – she’s worked with two members of the same family!

When Canine Partner Angie came into Paul Chandler’s life, his daughter Anna admits she was a little jealous. Both Paul and Anna had Osteogenesis Imperfecta, a brittle bone disease that means their bones can break when simply coughing or sneezing.

“I have always loved dogs,” Anna said. “Suddenly my dad had a dog that would help him do many of the tasks we both find difficult but she wasn’t for sharing! However, my dad had recently lost his father and was diagnosed with respiratory failure. He was lonely and Angie became the lifeline he really needed, I could see their bond growing and it was just the support he needed.

Usually, when a Canine Partner comes into a family environment, it is only for one recipient and no one else is allowed to give them commands. In this case, though, that began to change. Anna explained: “Because my father and I had the same condition, Angie did begin to do things for me as well. I lived next door and one day I was in with my Dad when my mobile phone began to ring. I dropped it before I could answer it and Angie immediately picked it up and delivered it back to me!”

At this point Anna could really see the difference a Canine Partner would make to her and debated applying for a Canine Partner herself. However, Anna’s father began to get quite ill and, as he struggled to give Angie the exercise she needed, Anna picked up some of the responsibility. “My Dad was worrying about Angie so much, I reassured him that I would look after her for as long as he needed me to,” she said.

Just two days after Christmas 2008, Paul died. “It was a very sad time for us, but I contacted Canine Partners straight away to ask if I could keep Angie both for myself and to fulfil my promise to Dad,” Anna said.  “They agreed, but said she had to come back in for assessment and training so they could decide whether I could have her as a full Canine Partner.

“I was delighted when Canine Partners said I could take Angie home as a full Canine Partner,” continued Anna. “I had got her well enough under control to be a jacketed assistance dog, which felt amazing. I have bad asthma and continually forget to take my inhaler in the mornings and evenings. Angie has picked up on this and brings it to me and waits with me until I take it – if I forget, she barks until I do! What’s more, when I recently had an asthma attack she went and fetched my fiancé Craig without being asked to.”

Angie now lives with Anna, Craig and two Maltese dogs that seem to have a calming influence on the Canine Partner. Anna and Angie go everywhere together and have given each other a great deal of emotional support over the last few months.

“One thing I really want to emphasise is that most people with brittle bones are scared of dogs, especially big ones like Angie,” she said. “They are afraid that the dog won’t realize and might jump on them, breaking a bone or two.  I want every person with Osteogenesis Imperfecta to know that dogs like Angie know this and they too could benefit from a Canine Partner. When Angie jumps up, she does it in such gentle way that it’s like a feather touching you. She might be playful and bit wild, but when it comes to the crunch she is as gentle as a lamb. I trust Angie when I’m out of the chair on the floor or in bed.

“We are so close, Angie has been there for both me and my Dad which is a lovely feeling,” Anna added. “Not long ago my fiancé was in hospital for six weeks and Angie recognised the fact I felt nervous when left alone. She really was my shadow during that time and offered me the extra company I needed. It has been an emotional roller coaster this year but, without Angie, I think I would have found it much more difficult.”

As a registered charity Canine Partners receives no government funding and is wholly dependent on public donations and legacies. There are currently more than 140 partnerships across the UK. For further information on volunteering, fundraising or applying for a Canine Partner, please visit www.caninepartners.org.uk or call 08456 580 480.