"Indi has given me my life back" - Wendy Plues

29.10.03

MP's campaign bears fruit for Wendy and her canine partner, Indi

Local MP Edward Davey yesterday met with the first person in the UK to have the costs of an Assistance Dog paid for by Social Services - Wendy Plues and her canine partner Indi.

Edward Davey has been campaigning to get social services to be more flexible in how they allow disabled people to spend their existing direct payments, and the charity, Canine Partners, believes Wendy is the first person to benefit from the MP's campaign.

Last year Edward Davey won written ministerial clarification that direct payments could be used to pay for dog food and vet bills, and Canine Partners have used his work to persuade local social services in Surrey to pay these for Wendy Plues' 5 year old golden Labrador, Indi.

At a cost of just £8 per week for food and vet bills, Indi is saving the taxpayer £23,000 per year - the estimated cost of providing equivalent home care for Wendy.

More importantly, Wendy and her family benefit from greater independence. Indi helps Wendy get dressed, does the laundry, fetches the telephone and presses buttons on lifts and pedestrian crossings. Indi also collects the post, opens and closes doors and can even pay for the shopping in the supermarket! Best of all Indi has relieved the pressure on Wendy's 10 year old son Joel who no longer worries about his mother now she has Indi's support.

Edward Davey commented:

"This is brilliant news for Wendy and her family. Our campaign with Canine Partners is at last bearing fruit. I hope many more people will benefit from this extra flexibility in the payment rules."

Wendy Plues commented:

"My canine partner, Indi, has given me my life back. He has turned me from being a thing in a wheelchair to being an independent person again. Perhaps even better he has given my son more of his young life back. We are human beings and a family again."

Terry Knott Chief Executive of Canine Partners commented:

"This has been a long and difficult road and I pay tribute to Edward Davey in achieving the breakthrough, with the help of Chessington resident, Pauline Hamblin. I also would pay tribute to Wendy in her endeavours and perseverance."

More information from Canine Partners

Also see the BBC Online report.