Paws for Ability

Imagine if we could invest into a dog rescue centre to train and match unwanted dogs to children and adults who's health and wellbeing would benefit from them. Environmentaly keeping our streets and cities clear of stray dogs, socialogicaly improving the development of human society and ecologically saving and improving the lives of animals.

Well you can, because that is is what we do at Merseyside Dogs Home. Our dogs have been long used for aiding people with physical and mental disabilities but now they're being used for something else: helping people with their mental health. We use stray and lost dogs to give both emotional and physical support to children and adults, people suffering from mental health issues like depression, anxiety, and PTSD. Dogs increase freedom and independence, reduce reliance on human care givers and act as great ice breakers for helping to overcome social isolation to people living with disabilities. But most of all, they are a friend when you need one.

Paws for Ability
Paws for Ability is our way of bringing people and dogs together for the benefit of the dog, individuals and the community. We work with people, improving their lives through association with dogs. Enriching the lives of adults and children with disabilities by using dogs as therapy, training and placing quality, task-trained service dogs. This provides increased independence for the adults and children, and assistance to their families.

Unusually we don't have a breeding program to bring into the world puppies, we take all of our service dogs from the incoming stray dogs that we receive from across the Merseyside region.

See this moment
I've never experienced a moment like this. Yesterday was the first day my five year old Autistic son met his new Autism Service Dog.

This picture captures the face of a mother who saw her child, who she can't hug, wash, dress, snuggle and touch freely lay on his new Service dog of his own free will, with a purposeful, unspoken attachment. This is the face of a mom who has seen her son experience countless failed social interactions on the playground in an attempt to have a friend. Any friend. Any kind of connection. She has sat with her son while he has cried at night for months because he has no consistent connections outside of the family no matter how hard he tries and no matter what he works hard on in his Autism therapies. It doesn't transfer to the natural occurring world for him. And now she is sitting behind her son silently watching this moment, with the air sucked from her lungs, and no words to say.

It's worth every fight for services for my son, every diagnosis, every new provider, every dollar spent, every paper filled out, every school meeting, every shed tear, every step forward, every step back, and every wonder of the unknown future. Somehow because of this - because of Tornado - I know everything will be okay. As a mother, I have seen countless challenging and painful moments my son has encountered and cried countless more. Yesterday however, I cried for a different reason. It is a feeling that is indescribable."

Lisa Robinson
Our dog is not a service dog . But the bond that my six year with a disability share is astounding.

Candace Caldwell
The dog who gave my son words... Big hugs to this momma. We prayed for this moment ... and God sent us a dog

Joshua Dickenson
I am 22 and all my young life I felt alone and suffered with deep depression and one year ago this little (200 pounds) fur angel joined my life. From his slobber to him taking my whole bed and always being a cuddle buddy when I needed it. ZEUS (his name) has always been there for me. To have someone just sit with you that you can vent to without any judgment or hate towards you is everything I could ask for and sometimes that's all you need someone to lay down and hear you out. and his wet nose and talking during his naps makes me so happy to have him. I honestly don't know where I would be without my buddy and he is truly my best friend.