Support dogs are crucial for many people living with disabilities. Support Dogs charity provides assistance for people with a range of debilitating conditions, and one of these people is from Christchurch!
Leah Marshall was just 13 when she started to suffer from arthritis, which caused stiffness in her joints. This made living life as a normal teen very difficult, as she spent most of her day sleeping, and couldn’t enjoy fun activities like shopping and cinema trips with friends.
Not only was she battling this painful condition, she also developed chronic fatigue.
Leah is now 37, and her illness impacts her everyday life, as she is on five different types of pain medication. But this is where Alfred, her wonderful support dog, comes in.
Alfred – an Australian Labradoodle
Alfred, a loveable Australian Labradoodle, has been trained by Support Dogs to help Leah with everyday tasks. He picks up any items Leah drops, can load and unload the washing machine, fill a basket with clothes, as well as pass clothes to Leah to be hung on the washing line, and even helps Leah get undressed.
Already quite an impressive list! But he also helps find Leah’s phone and keys, empty shopping bags, pick up groceries on supermarket shelves, and fetch help when needed!
It was difficult for Leah to understand what was going on when she was younger. Many medics assumed it was just growing pains. This meant Leah had to wait four years for an official diagnosis, and access to the help she needed.
When she was eventually prescribed medication at 17, the pain still wouldn’t shift.
“I couldn’t even stand on my own two feet without being in horrific pain,” said Leah.
“I didn’t have the typical teenage years of spending time with friends and socialising, that was harder than anything else. ”
When Leah started work at 19, she had to sleep on her lunch breaks due to the sheer exhaustion, and she struggled to walk and stand up for long periods of time.
As her condition prevailed, her mental health took a toll. She looked up Support Dogs, but she assumed they only helped wheelchair uses, so she got Alfred as a pet.
When she discovered Support Dogs’ help extended beyond wheelchair users, she applied for training. Two years on and the pair are thriving together.
“I’m always in pain, so for Alfred to be able to pick things up for me, it’s an instant relief, having Alfred trained is one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.” said Leah
If you want to find out more about the charity’s incredible work, visit www.supportdogs.org.uk or call 0114 2617800.