Our speaker today was Angela Taylor from Dogs for Good. Angela got involved with the charity following a chance meeting on a bus with someone who had an assistance dog. Dogs for Good is one of eight assistance dog charities registered with Assistance Dogs UK.
The charity is based in Banbury and its mission is to make life-changing differences for people with disabilities through the power of trained dogs. They currently help people with physical disabilities, learning disabilities and autism. The autism dogs go mainly to children and they have such an impact that the child is often able to attend a mainstream school.
Puppies are socialised with volunteers for 16 months before undergoing training as an assistance dogs. Sometimes family dogs can also be trained to offer some assistance to a family member but yet they will not reach the same level of training as the puppies. They socialise 100 puppies a year and have found that golden retrievers, labradors, spaniels and poodle crosses have the best temperament and ability as assistance dogs. The dogs learn obedience, pushing, pulling, retrieving and barking. they also have to be good with children and other dogs.
Angela talked about Jane, an MS sufferer in Cornwall, and her dog, Rubix. Rubix is a good retrieving dog and helps Jane manage her crutches when out walking. Rubix also demonstrated a sense of humour when after a long day at a refresher training course he retrieved the keys from Jane’s handbag, signalling that he felt it was time to go home.
The dogs have an eight-year working life before enjoying a well-earned retirement. Often the old dog will teach the new dog before they leave.
We also welcomed David Cant to our meeting to receive a Business Partner certificate on behalf of Birkett Long LLP and also, in his capacity as trustee, a cheque for the Rob George Foundation. (See the photograph.)