Phil Day had a job that many wouldn’t have the head for; he was a scaffolder, working on building sites many feet up in the air. One day, his worst nightmare came true and a steel structure collapsed leaving him paralysed from the waist down.
“When I first had my accident I lacked a lot of confidence. I went from being very active to not being able to do simple things like pick up my keys or even the morning post.
“Luckily, a friend put me in touch with Dogs for the Disabled and they partnered with me with Angus, a great, big golden retriever. Since then, I can honestly say I never really looked back. I took him everywhere with me – he gave me back my independence; I never worried that I’d need someone else to help me when he was around.”
Sadly, Angus died in June 2006 but today Phil is partnered with Noah, a black Labrador. “Noah is very different to Angus, but I wouldn’t be without an assistance dog now. They help on so many different levels from acting as a confidence booster or helping break the ice in new situations, to assisting me with the things I once took for granted. Noah has helped me make the best of my situation, I can look forward now to what the future has in store.”
Make a donationSupport Dogs for the DisabledAdult assistance dog service info (aged 17 years and over)
