The Duchess of Gloucester recently visited Isle of Wight charity Ability Dogs 4 Young People during a special visit to the organisation’s Training Centre at Sandown Airport.
Her Royal Highness visited on 1st May, accompanied by Deputy Lieutenant Mrs Dawn Haig-Thomas, and met volunteers, recipients and puppies currently undergoing specialist training.
The Duchess was introduced to the charity’s Founder and CEO, Carol Court, along with volunteer puppy parents Alan Thompson and Janet Harris, who were joined by puppies Jerry and Perry. Perry is the charity’s newest recruit at just 8 weeks old.
During the visit, The Duchess watched a demonstration involving 8 volunteer puppy parents and their Ability Dog puppies aged between 7 months and 2 years old.
The dogs demonstrated a range of skills, from basic obedience to more advanced tasks such as opening cupboards and retrieving items.
Volunteer puppy parent Rosemary explained how the specialist training helps prepare the dogs for future working roles while also creating a supportive and enjoyable environment for volunteers.
Her Royal Highness also met 7 recipients and their Ability Dogs, hearing first-hand how the animals provide support tailored to individual needs.
Among them was Shania, who explained how her dog Jamie alerts her to seizures and gives her greater confidence and independence. Samantha described how Skye supports children at school, while Amie spoke about her second Ability Dog, Elinor, following the retirement of her first dog, Brandy.
At the end of the visit, Raven – the youngest recipient attending – presented The Duchess with 2 plush Ability Dog toys representing Bonnie, Raven’s own Ability Dog, and Georgie, the charity’s very first Ability Dog.
Carol Court, Founder and CEO of Ability Dogs 4 Young People, has said:
“I hope The Duchess of Gloucester enjoyed meeting everyone and our dogs and puppies.
“It was such an honour to meet Her Royal Highness and to have the chance to show her first hand the broad scope of our charitable work across the Island, and how we are really changing so many people’s lives for the better.”
