To everyone involved in bringing Aggie into Jack’s life,

Imagine an affectionate, kind-hearted nine-year-old boy who does well at school and enjoys his friends, loves his food and spends a lot of time reading and drawing.  Sound normal?  We think so, and Jack would love other people to think so too.
He would love to be able to speak more easily so that he can hold a longer conversation with them.  A better memory would be useful too.  He would really like if strangers didn’t look at his walking frame before they look at him.  And as for people making comments about him as if he wasn’t there… it happens all the time.  Oh, and he would also like an extra pair of arms as his own arms are constantly occupied guiding a walking frame!
Life can be very frustrating for someone with Ataxic Cerebral Palsy, especially when the environment is noisy and busy with lots of people, movement and obstacles.  Changes in the structure of the day can be a challenge and hard to deal with, such as switching from term-time to holidays and the other way around.  Opportunities to take part in after-school activities are limited as he needs an assistant at all times in case of a fall and to deal with heavy doors, usually preventing access to toilets!  Many mainstream sports are off-limits if inclusive facilities are not available and if activity leaders are not open-minded or simply don’t have training in the area.
Jack is our gorgeous son and we wouldn’t change him for the world, but we are constantly trying to think of things that would make life a little bit easier for him.  Imagine our delight when, while doing some internet research one day we found an Irish website about dogs for people with disabilities.  As Jack loves dogs, we just had an immediate sense that it would be a good idea to apply to go on their waiting list.  What we didn’t realise was that it would turn out to be, not simply a “good idea”, but a life-changing decision for the better!
Up to the end of October 2009, Jack used a walking frame exclusively.  When we heard that Irish Dogs for the Disabled had identified a suitable dog for him, Jack was motivated to start practising to walk using tripod walking sticks.  Within four weeks, he was confident enough to leave the walking frame at home and just bring his walking sticks to Cork.  This was an incredible achievement for a nine-year old with balance problems and low muscle tone.
Jack met his stability dog, Aggie, for the first time at the start of December 2009.  We embarked on a two-week training programme in Cork which should have been a daunting prospect.  However it was made surprisingly easy by the wonderful welcome we received from Jennifer Dowler, head trainer, and Ger Dillon, CEO, of Irish Dogs for the Disabled.  
Aggie is a beautiful two-year old Golden Retriever with a lovely calm disposition – Jack adored her from the minute he met her.  She has been trained as a stability dog which means that Jack can walk holding Aggie’s harness on one side and using a walking stick on the other.  The difference this has made to Jack is incredible.
On his second day of training, Jack said to us, “I love Aggie because no-one looks at me anymore.”  In his mind, the burden of going out in public with a visible disability had been lifted.  The happiness that this gives him is worth more than we can ever put into words.  Aggie attracts all the attention; when people meet Jack and Aggie, they stop to admire her and ask him what her name is.  He loves this and has become more sociable and less fearful of having to speak to both friends and strangers as a result.
Physically, he has become stronger and fitter, due to all the walking he has been doing when out with Aggie.  The quality and volume of his speech has improved due to practising the verbal commands he must use when walking with her. 
Jack is responsible for grooming Aggie every day - a job he never complains about.  She is a constant, dedicated companion which is important to him as life can be a little bit isolating sometimes.  Aggie has won over four generations of Jack’s immediate family, not to mention neighbours and friends – even in the few short weeks over Christmas, we can’t imagine what life would be like without her! 
A huge thank you to the two amazing women behind Irish Dogs for the Disabled, Jennifer Dowler and Ger Dillon.  And a heartfelt thanks to the foster family who looked after Aggie so well for the first year of her life – without them, Jack wouldn’t have such an affectionate, calm, healthy dog to help him make his way in life.
Yours sincerely,
Emer Sherry and John Caldwell

Jack’s parents: