Dogs for Good – Colin and Christine’s Case Study

In 2021, we awarded Dogs For Good a grant of £298,556, spread over three years, towards the growth of the charity’s Dementia Dog work and the establishment of both dementia services and the Family Dog program in Scotland.

They’ve sent us this case study showing the impact the funds have made:

How Dogs for Good’s Dementia Dog Team is enabling Colin and Christine to live well with dementia

Following a dementia diagnosis, dog lover Colin was interested in finding out more about how a dog could help him keep active and live well with his diagnosis.

Colin and his wife, Christine, were welcomed by the Dogs for Good Dementia Dog team who worked with them to explore how a dog could help.

Gorgeous golden retriever, Sandy and community dog handler, Natashya, helped Colin and Christine grow their confidence in dog walking and caring for a dog. Sandy bonded brilliantly with Colin, initially playing puzzle games and activities at home, before they started to venture out on walks.

The sessions became a real turning point for Colin and Christine, finding positivity after what had been a stressful time around diagnosis.  And following the sessions, Colin and Christine felt sure that a well-trained pet dog would bring big benefits to them both.

So, with Dogs for Good’s help, they created a list of the attributes they were looking for in a dog and began a search with rehoming organisations.  While searching, Dogs for Good were still there for Colin and Christine, helping them learn about caring for a dog and linking them in with a local walking group to help them stay connected and benefit from regular exercise.

And it’s all worked out beautifully. In August, Colin and Christine welcomed a rescue Labradoodle, Remo, into their lives who feels very much part of the family.