Dogs for the Disabled is a unique charity founded in 2007 to improve the lives of children
and adults living with physical disabilities in Ireland. They deliver approximately 28 fully
trained assistance / therapy-dogs each year to profoundly disabled partners. The dogs that do
not progress through the rigorous training programme as fully qualified assistance dogs, go
on to career as a therapy-dog. 85% of applicants are children living with a physical disability
and the difference one of these highly trained tail-waggers makes in their lives is priceless.
Each of the special assistance dogs’ costs €15,000 to raise, train and care for over their entire
lifetime. The charity supports each canine for their entire life – from birth through to
retirement with no money passing hands for any dog for any specific child or adult. This is to
ensure the charity retains legal ownership of each dog, enabling them to maintain the pooches
welfare at all time and also so that there is no unfair advantage to anyone. However, post
qualification they ask the families to get involved in any way they can, so that another child
or adult could benefit from a gift of an assistance dog like they did!
Dogs for the Disabled, are currently partners on two research studies – with TCD and the
Dublin Neurological Institute – where an evaluation of the benefits of Assistance Dogs is
being undertaken. Through the provision of multi-talented assistance dogs, the organisation
enables a better world for its partners. A world where they are active members of society and
not limited by their disability. From personal experience, the feeling of not always having to
ask for help with simple everyday tasks, is empowering, develops confidence and allows your
true gifts to shine through. Each dog is trained to cater for the needs of their specific partner
to enable them to live life with greater independence. From stability to task dogs there is no
doubt they provide a wonderful service and make a huge impact in their partner’s life.
Stability Assistance Dog Programme works by pairing a child who has severe difficulty
walking with a very suitable stability assistance dog. Ataxia is a term for a group of disorders
that affect co-ordination, balance and speech which these dogs can benefit. The timing of all
of this is critical because the child needs to be paired with the dog before they are 12 years
old, at the very latest. The Charity has seen dramatic improvements in partners’ walking
abilities from this programme and it is the only one of its kind currently running in the EU.
Dogs trained as task dogs serve a slightly different function to open doors, retrieve items and
help their partner to live more independently when at home and when out and about. Opening
and closing doors, barking to raise the alarm in an emergency, retrieving items such as a
telephones or dropped articles like keys or a bag, pressing a pedestrian crossing button are
just some of the range of tasks that an assistance dog trained by the charity will be able to
help with. Disability can lead to isolation, loss of confidence and feelings of low self-esteem.
Not only that but for many people living with an impairment, being unable to do even a
simple task like picking up the post can leave them feeling depressed and dependent. Dogs
for the Disabled trains dogs to assist with practical, everyday tasks to help a person with an
aliment to live life to the full, breaking down barriers to the outside world and helping to
improve confidence and stress levels.
Not all puppies will qualify as stability or assistance dogs therefore, a Therapy Dog training
programme has been developed for those particular dogs. These dogs will go to work in
community health care settings – such as in Hospitals and Therapy Settings (e.g. with
Physiotherapists, Occupational Therapists, Play Therapists). I for one loved seeing these dogs
doing the rounds in the rehab hospital in Dun Laoghaire brightening up everyone’s day!
Jennifer Dowler, CEO, explains how “Our assistance dogs are provided to disabled partners
free of charge and we depend almost entirely on donors like you and receive very little
government funding. The charity trains dogs to assist children and adults in carrying out a
range of practical tasks and to provide stability when needed.”. She is also issuing an urgent,
heartfelt appeal to families who share her passion to take the plunge and foster a puppy for
12-14 months. Jennifer wants families to know their actions will help transform the lives of
children and adults with profound physical disabilities.
Please support Dogs for the Disabled with your one-off or monthly donation today at: