Golden Labrador Eli is well known around Chorleywood. Lorna Marsh’s dedicated canine partner trots alongside her on shopping trips (he especially loves Poores), when she whizzes along to The Stag for a drink or goes up to the Common.
Main photo © Purpix Photography
Lorna, who has celebral palsey quadraplegia, was once told that it could be tricky to find a dog to meet all her needs because of her specific disability but Canine Partners charity put her together with Eli who had 18 months training under his collar. He has been Lorna’s constant buddy and a Chorleywood resident for nearly seven years.
Watch Lorna talking about Eli here:
“He came home just before his second birthday (it’s on Christmas Day!) and we’ve been together ever since: says Lorna.
“We went to the Common for the first time a few weeks ago. It was amazing!” says Lorna, “I was told that there was no disabled access but discovered a public right of way that brings me out opposite the Memorial Hall Car Park so I can now go down Shire Lane in my wheelchair under the railway bridge and up the path. Eli was so excited. He kept circling my chair, rolling over and giving his big Labrador smile. We have been a few times since…he now gets a proper run without me having to ask for help. Access to woodlands and common land makes so much difference. ”
Eli is the best thing that happened to Lorna
“He takes the worry away. If I drop something I don’t panic, he picks it up. It’s about peace of mind. And he’s my best friend”
He helps her daily with daily routine by waking her, opening doors, dropping things in the bin, tugging off her coat off and putting clothes in the washing machine – over 300 tasks in all, including taking his own jacket off and hanging it up when he goes off duty. But of all these she is most proud of him fetching her iPad.
“It brings him into the 21st century – it’s of the moment!”
Lorna frequently helps with Canine Partners publicity
“The cost of a canine partner’ training, care and after care from 8 wks old to the end of its working life at 12yrs is £20,000.” says Jenny Moir of Canine Partners, “Lorna and Eli are fantastic ambassadors for the charity and inspirational partners. They appeared in BBC’s Saints and Scroungers with Matt Allwright and Lorna’s story struck a chord. We had a massive response in terms of funds and also heard from people with disabilities who might benefit from a dog.”
The pair have been in national newspapers and in a short film directed by Leanne Flinn, a friend since they went to Christ Church school together.
“Leanne’s film is my favourite ever” say Lorna, “it was premiered at Cannes!”
Watch Leanne’s Straight 8 film here:
As always with media there are times when plans change
“ We recently did some filming and our footage was pulled just before the programme was due to go out. I was so upset, partly because of the effort but mostly because TV reaches so many millions of people. All I kept thinking was that somebody might have got a dog if the clips hadn’t been cut.”
“ We accept this happens from time to time” adds Jenny, “ We just have to make sure we get the message across in other ways. It’s our 25th anniversary this month and we are asking people to host a dinner party for donations There’s also an online auction with prizes including Waitrose Cookery School vouchers, a ski holiday and a professional pet photograph. “
Host a dinner party for Canine Partners. Details at caninepartners.org.uk/25
Jenny Moir of Canine Partners explains more about Canine Partners training
“During training we show dogs a range of commands, socialise them by taking them on public transport, to the shops, on school pick ups etc. At 16 /18 months the dog goes on his own to a training centre in West Sussex or Leicestershire where he is allocated to a trainer and the all they have learned in puppy training is reinforced plus three core tasks are taught – touching, tugging and retrieving.
Touching includes pedestrian zebra crossing buttons, lift buttons; tugging off includes socks, jackets and a light switch; retrieving could be a phone, key. They are taught how to work around a wheel chair, how open the door of a washing machine and load and unload it. During this advance stage the trainers will look at the character of the dog, assess how he is doing and consider people on the waiting list who might match up. Training is tailored to individuals as everybody has different requirements. After five months training a dog is teamed with a potential partner and the work together for two weeks to see if they are well paired . 70% of dogs pass the training, like people not every dog suited to the work.. it’s not fair if the dog hate public places.”
Mostly dogs are Labradors or lab retrievers and there are some poodle cross labs and a few poodles. Labs are especially suitable because they are a working breed, The cost of a canine partner from 8 wks to the end of its working life at 12 yrs costs £20,000 which covers training, care and after care.. Each partnership has a support system until the dog retires and the person is encouraged to teach new tasks every 6 months to strengthen the bond.
“We do not receive any government funding and rely solely on donations so the money raised helps create more canine partnerships, transforming the lives of disabled people.” adds Jenny, ” This year is a particularly special one for us at Canine Partners as we are celebrating our 25th anniversary.”
All funds raised help the Charity to train more assistance dogs and transform the lives of people with disabilities, including wounded servicemen and women in conjunction with Help for Heroes.