Dog A.I.D. (Assistance in Disability) was established in 1992 to assist people with life-limiting physical disabilities, improving their quality of life by helping them train their own pet dogs to provide assistance with day-to-day tasks and in some circumstances providing life-saving interventions. In 1996, the Dog A.I.D. Scheme was launched nationally at Crufts and today benefits from a team of over 100 Trainers and Assessors working on a voluntary basis across the U.K. from its base in Shrewsbury, Shropshire.

There are currently 85 fully qualified Dog A.I.D. dogs throughout the country, with 108 more in training. Training takes up to two years with both dog and owner receiving specialist education from our network of trainers and attain fully qualified Assistance Dog status through a number of stages.

Once trained, the new Assistance Dogs will be able to support their owner to live a more independent life, these may include:

• Turning lights on and off
• Picking up objects
• Helping to remove clothing
• Picking up the post or even emptying the washing machine
• Raising the alarm in case of emergency

In short, these dogs are often their owners’ lifeline, supporting them emotionally as well as physically and helping them to integrate with their local community, accessing other support and decreasing reliance on statutory health services and family members.

Our work is funded purely be voluntary donations and contributions from Grant Making Trusts and we are accredited by the National and International umbrella groups, which uphold the high standards required for Assistance Dog training. The charity is also registered with the Fundraising Regulator.

Dog A.I.D. (Assistance in Disability) is unique in that the training capitalises on the existing owner / dog relationship and the results can by truly life-changing.

Gifts in wills will allow us to further grow and develop these services with confidence in the knowledge that our own future is secure.

As a charity dedicated to creating a better future for disabled people and their families we understand better than most that family comes first, which makes gifts in wills even more special to us.

Once you have provided for your own loved ones, we hope that you will consider leaving a gift to Dog A.I.D. (Assistance in Disability). On behalf of those who will one day benefit from your generosity, thank you.