Ahead of UK Disability History Month (19 November to 19 December), Canine Partners is shining a light on its Financial Assistance Fund to highlight the disproportionate impact rising living costs are having on disabled people across the UK.
Formed in 1990, the national charity breeds, trains and supports expert assistance dogs, partnering them with physically disabled people. The charity has created over 1,000 life-changing partnerships, with over 200 currently active across the UK right now.
Throughout this time, Canine Partners has supported its partnerships via a little-known lifeline that helps combat rising living costs and financial hardship.
Introducing Canine Partners’ Financial Assistance Fund
The Financial Assistance Fund provides essential financial relief to the charity’s partners (individuals assigned assistance dogs) struggling with the cost of caring for an assistance dog.
The vital funding covers costs for anything from veterinary bills to day-to-day expenses, such as:
- Dog food
- Preventive care (vaccinations, flea and worn treatments)
- Monthly insurance premiums
- Specialist supplements
- Medication
- Prescription diet
- Physiotherapy
- Insurance excess fees
- Urgent referral for special care
- Essential surgery
“For the disabled people we support, a Canine Partner is not a luxury. Their assistance dog provides practical support, love and companionship; helping them live happier, more independent lives.
“We never want our partners to face losing their assistance dog because of their financial circumstances. That’s where our Financial Assistance Fund comes in.”
Hayley Telling, Canine Partners Veterinary and Wellbeing Manager
Demand for financial assistance
It costs £50,000 to train and support a Canine Partner from puppyhood right through to retirement – and the charity does not charge partners for their life-changing assistance dogs or the training. Partners are simply asked to cover the everyday costs of a dog.
In addition to lifelong support, partners also have access to reduced-cost food and insurance to help make these essentials more affordable.
A recent Government report has confirmed that the rising cost of living is a persistent challenge for disabled people – with over half (52%) saying they could no longer afford to buy everything that they needed for their impairment, condition, or access needs.
Canine Partners is seeing this impact firsthand. Last year, the charity spent £48,582 through its Financial Assistance Fund to keep partnerships together. This supported both day-to-day costs and emergency veterinary care, which can quickly run into thousands of pounds.
“For someone already struggling to make ends meet, an unexpected bill or sudden change in circumstances can mean choosing between covering everyday costs and keeping their Canine Partner. The thought of losing the dog that gives them independence, love and companionship can be devastating.”
Hayley Telling, Veterinary and Wellbeing Manager
How Canine Partners Financial Assistance Fund is already changing lives
The festive season can be a joyful time, but for many disabled people it can also be lonely, isolating and financially difficult.
Kate was facing eviction and the possibility of spending Christmas homeless and alone when Juniper, her Canine Partner, developed polyarthritis and needed urgent treatment, tests and medication.
Veterinary bills quickly ran into thousands of pounds and desperate to keep Juniper safe and their partnership together, Kate turned to us for help.
Canine Partners Financial Assistance Fund provided three months of emergency cover, taking care of all dog-related costs including food, insurance, specialist supplements and preventive care, as well as her veterinary costs.
The support gave Kate one less thing to worry about during an incredibly uncertain time. It meant she could focus on rebuilding her life, knowing Juniper was getting the care she needed.
“Without Canine Partners support I’d have had to give up Juniper, and I couldn’t have faced that on top of everything else I was going through. They kept her healthy and safe when I couldn’t and I will never be able to repay them for that.”
Kate
Find out more about the Financial Assistance Fund and the partnerships it supports at: caninepartners.org.uk/christmas-and-beyond/
