SARUM U3A

Our June coffee morning was held in St Francis Church, where we will continue to meet until repairs to the Church Hall are completed.

We had three visitors, Alison Bailey, Lesley Fisher, and Amber, representatives of the Hampshire branch of Canine Partners. We listened attentively to an inspiring and sometimes emotional description of their work. Alison told us that this is an organisation dedicated to training dogs to live with and assist in the daily necessities of people with physical and life-threatening illnesses. The dogs’ skills give their human partners independence, confidence, and enhance the quality of their lives.

Once selected, a puppy of 8 weeks will live with a trained puppy walker for basic training. Amber, a Labrador- cross, demonstrated the skills learned in the early months before the dog moves on to such skills as learning to undress, open doors, switch on lights, strip beds, and insert cards into cash machines. Partners who have fallen out of wheelchairs can be put gently into recovery positions and help summoned by their dogs.The skills and patience of these animals are amazing. They are truly man’s best friend!

It costs £20,000 to train and keep a dog during its working life. Look out for these dogs in their purple jackets and support them whenever you can.

Chris Perry, our outings organiser, encouraged us to sign up to visits to the London Olympic site, and the Somerset Wetlands centre.

The results of our course options will be available next meeting.