Canine Partners was founded in 1988 and launched in 1991. Anne Conway and Elizabeth Ormerod BVMS, MRCVS both founded the charity having spent several years carefully researching Assistance Dog programmes worldwide. Early on they were joined by others, including Nicky Pendleton and Carol Forster who brought expertise in the impact of disability on independence and wellbeing.
Using dogs to help people with physical disabilities began in the United States in the mid 1970's and spread to other parts of the world. Canine Partners is based on the work of the SOHO Foundation in Holland, a charity that helped Canine Partners in its early development.
While still based in small premises in Emsworth, Hampshire, the Charity placed its first three dogs in August 1994, Alex, Angus and Alfred.
By 1995 the Charity had become well established and as the charity kept on growing it regularly needed to move to larger premises. Over the following years, the Charity moved from Emsworth to Havant to Petersfield until we finally secured a Home of Our Own in 2005, in Heyshott near Midhurst, West Sussex.
To date Canine Partners have placed over 140 dogs around the UK since our launch in 1991.
Canine Partners is a registered charity and is governed by a Council of Trustees, which represent a cross section of disciplines involved in our charitable activity.
While the number of people with physical disabilities continues to grow, the need for our work remains. We believe we are able to help approximately 10% of the 10million people who are registered disabled in the UK.
Some of our Staff and Volunteers outside our Training Centre- 2006
