A labrador named Gordon is paw-viding significant relief to a woman who has spent most of her life in pain.
Amanda Radforth was born with Arthrogryposis, a condition characterized by fixed or ‘frozen’ joints. In Amanda’s case, both her arms and legs are shortened, and she was born with club foot and a cleft palate.
The 57-year-old has had multiple operations over the years to help alleviate pain, and everyday tasks prove difficult as she can’t reach or walk far.
But thanks to the Yorkshire-based Support Dogs charity, Amanda has been able to carry on living independently.
She is currently partnered with Gordon, a black Labrador who has been trained by Support Dogs to help Amanda with a range of tasks.
The loveable pooch, who has lived with Amanda since January, is trained to unload the washing machine and tumble drier, help her to put on her shoes, pick up objects and fetch the post. Out and about, he even picks up tins and other groceries from shop shelves.
“Life would be very difficult without Gordon,” said Amanda, whose husband of 35 years, Paul, 58, has spina bifida and is a double amputee.
“These dogs have transformed my life. I just ask Gordon to do something – I don’t have to get up or ask someone to do it for me. It’s so much easier and less stressful; it’s not as tiring.”
Amanda first sought help from Support Dogs - which trains and provides assistance dogs to help autistic children, as well as adults with epilepsy or a physical disability to live safer, more independent lives - in 1997, when the charity was just five years old.
Gordon is the fourth dog provided by the charity and follows in the pawprints of Amanda’s three previous life-changing pooches, King Charles Cavaliers Charlie and Kobi and chocolate Lab Dolly.
To find out more about the work of Support Dogs, please visit www.supportdogs.org.uk or call 0114 2617800.
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