Best Friends: the story of Dogs for the Disabled

by Jackie Williamson and Sarah Carr

Author and journalist Jackie Williamson spent two years working as national press officer for Dogs for the Disabled, a charity that trains dogs to live and work in partnership with disabled adults and children. Whilst there she met one of the clients, Sarah Carr, and with the blessing of the chief executives and trustees, the two decided to collaborate on a book.

Sarah developed arthritis and fibromyalgia in her teens. She is in constant pain, has difficulty in walking and can only get around with the use of a mobility scooter. In 1997 her life was transformed when she was partnered with her first assistance dog and it was her gratitude to the charity that inspired her to put pen to paper.

Best Friends is Sarah's personal account of how her life, and the lives of other clients, have been transformed by having an assistance dog trained especially for them. It tells the story of how the charity came into being, thanks to the courage, grit and determination of its founder, and provides insights into the training given to the dogs and their humans on the journey that makes them perfect partners.

Sensitive and moving, the book features a number of case studies. Written with the full backing and cooperation of the chief executive and trustees of Dogs for the Disabled and with a foreword from Peter Purves, it charts the charity’s earliest days and also describes both extremes of the life of an assistance dog, from puppy training to retirement.  A box of Kleenex may come in handy for the retirement chapter!

The book has 110 pages plus 10 pages of photographs and costs £4.95 plus £1.50 p&p

 Available direct from Acorns Publishing: email acorns@acorns publishing.co.uk or call 01348 831862