The Life of Ivy

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The Life of Ivy I'm a trainee assistant dog with Irish Dogs for the Disabled. I live with my sister Jasmine, and we have lots of adventures.

Ivy, and her friends, from Irish Dogs of the Disabled are the gift that just keep giving. Starting their lives in The Dochas Centre at Mountjoy Prison, Ivy and her brothers and sisters then leave The Dochas to live in homes around Ireland, with families who socialise them, before they move to Shelton Abbey at approximately 16 months to be trained by inmates as part of another unique initiative Iri

sh Dogs for the Disabled started, that of getting young prisoners at Shelton Abbey open prison to become dog walkers. This unique Charity, the only one of it’s kind in Europe, was the brainchild of Jennifer Dowler who has been providing dogs to children and adults with physical disabilities for over a decade. Over 80% of the charity’s clients are children, between the ages of 6 and 12 years, living with severe physical disabilities which effect their independence and social interaction. Ivy will be especially trained to assist a physically disabled person to carry out a range of practical tasks in order to achieve greater independence. These everyday tasks include opening and closing doors, picking up dropped items, emptying the washing machine and helping a child with severe walking difficulties to walk with greater ease and balance. With 210 dogs nationwide and 120 currently out working, it costs the charity €15,000 to train and support each Assistance Dog. Dogs for the Disabled receive no government funding, relying completely on the generosity of sponsorship, donations and fundraising, and the dogs are partnered with disabled people at no cost to the recipient. Dogs for the Disabled are always looking for puppy socialisers, volunteers and fund-raising opportunities as they receive no government funding, and if you would like to find out more, or feel you can help change lives, please contact them on 021 431 6627 / [email protected]
You can find more information about Dogs for the Disabled at dogsfordisabled.ie

Smells like Sunday ❤️
23/06/2024

Smells like Sunday ❤️

Strong roots make beautiful leaves ❤️ Dogs for the Disabled
22/06/2024

Strong roots make beautiful leaves ❤️



Dogs for the Disabled

Are we there yet?
21/06/2024

Are we there yet?

Morning ❤️
11/06/2024

Morning ❤️

08/06/2024

Good morning ❤️

Today’s the day that Anne and Barry gather up the toys and blankets, stow away the little feeding bowls and have one fin...
30/05/2024

Today’s the day that Anne and Barry gather up the toys and blankets, stow away the little feeding bowls and have one final cuddle - and maybe even one more - as they bid farewell to Teasie and Tom.

It’s been a wonderful eight weeks as they have watched them develop, cherishing each moment, celebrating every waggy tail.

The pups have spent precious time with their dog family too.

Four fabulous generations together, a beautiful thing to watch. We know Jasmine and Fleur will miss them, and be there to distract Nancy over the coming days.

But for now, with a heavy heart, it’s time for Anne and Barry to put away the squeaky toys and close the door on their now quiet house. Knowing that the memories they’ve created, the lessons they’ve taught them, and the unconditional love they’ve shared will guide them on their journey through life; and, like the distant pitter-patter of little paws, their love will forever echo in the hearts of Teasie and Tom ❤️

Only two more sleeps until Nancy says goodbye to Teasie and Tom and the pups move onto the next stage in their life-chan...
28/05/2024

Only two more sleeps until Nancy says goodbye to Teasie and Tom and the pups move onto the next stage in their life-changing journey 💔
Dogs for the Disabled Anne Twohig

Love ewe ❤️
24/05/2024

Love ewe ❤️

Today’s been such a tough day…
23/05/2024

Today’s been such a tough day…

I wonder what she thinks,This little dog of mine ❤️Anne Twohig
09/05/2024

I wonder what she thinks,
This little dog of mine ❤️

Anne Twohig

07/05/2024

Cork based? Could you give one of our gorgeous training dogs a two week holiday?

It’s been a long week ❤️Dogs for the Disabled Linda Norman Anne Twohig
03/05/2024

It’s been a long week ❤️

Dogs for the Disabled Linda Norman Anne Twohig

'Dogs come into our lives to teach us about love. They leave us to teach us about loss.'On what would have been Hugo's t...
01/05/2024

'Dogs come into our lives to teach us about love.
They leave us to teach us about loss.'

On what would have been Hugo's tenth birthday, we think of him with love.

We are so grateful to have had him in our lives. He brought out the very best of us, and through him, we met the very best of people.

Thank you Hugo.
Your big heart is in our thoughts, today and every day.

29/04/2024

After a weekend of home physio little Tom is back for a check up, and they are delighted with his progress ❤️

Monday, already?
29/04/2024

Monday, already?

26/04/2024

For all the lovely people asking about little Tom, look at him go! He’s making such good progress ❤️

25/04/2024

At Dogs for the Disabled we value and love all our dogs, the cute puppies, our life changing assistance and task dogs, and those living out their well deserved retirement with our foster families.

From time to time each of our dogs need a little bit of extra loving care, and little Tom need this help now!

At a week old we identified him as having ‘swimmers disease’, common to over-sized puppies where they fail to develop normal walking patterns in the early weeks and their paws are splayed laterally resulting in an inability to stand and early intervention is keys to a full recovery.

Our incredible volunteer family, Anne and Barry, began Tommy’s physiotherapy straight away with gentle, loving rotations of the limbs. This maintained vital range of movement with the limbs.

Today we took our little pup to see the wonderful Emily at Sunbeam Vets, to ensure he receives the very best of care possible. The next few weeks will be a lot of extra work however what Tommy needs Tommy will get to ensure a full recovery for our very special boy ❤️

It’s been a long day ❤️
24/04/2024

It’s been a long day ❤️

Three generations of loveliness ❤️
24/04/2024

Three generations of loveliness ❤️

22/04/2024

Morning ❤️

Night ❤️
21/04/2024

Night ❤️

21/04/2024

And in other news this morning…

Dogs for the Disabled Linda Norman Anne Twohig

My friend Anne is Nancy’s human.I met her nearly three decades ago, a different lifetime, training to be a Samaritan vol...
19/04/2024

My friend Anne is Nancy’s human.

I met her nearly three decades ago, a different lifetime, training to be a Samaritan volunteer but that’s for another day.

So here we are thirty years later, minding puppies, listening to very different stories.

Like so many of us, the children she loves live in distant places, long flights away, years between visits, such is life.

Her son leaves tomorrow morning after a long overdue and fleeting visit home, the puppies will miss him.

I think his mum will too ❤️

19/04/2024

19/04/2024

First steps ❤️

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Good morning ❤️

After a weekend of home physio little Tom is back for a check up, and they are delighted with his progress ❤️

For all the lovely people asking about little Tom, look at him go! He’s making such good progress ❤️

At Dogs for the Disabled we value and love all our dogs, the cute puppies, our life changing assistance and task dogs, and those living out their well deserved retirement with our foster families. From time to time each of our dogs need a little bit of extra loving care, and little Tom need this help now! At a week old we identified him as having ‘swimmers disease’, common to over-sized puppies where they fail to develop normal walking patterns in the early weeks and their paws are splayed laterally resulting in an inability to stand and early intervention is keys to a full recovery. Our incredible volunteer family, Anne and Barry, began Tommy’s physiotherapy straight away with gentle, loving rotations of the limbs. This maintained vital range of movement with the limbs. Today we took our little pup to see the wonderful Emily at Sunbeam Vets, to ensure he receives the very best of care possible. The next few weeks will be a lot of extra work however what Tommy needs Tommy will get to ensure a full recovery for our very special boy ❤️

Morning ❤️
Morning ❤️

Morning ❤️

And in other news this morning… Dogs for the Disabled Linda Norman Anne Twohig

First steps ❤️

All good physio ends with a kiss ❤️
All good physio ends with a kiss ❤️

All good physio ends with a kiss ❤️

Compliments to the chef ❤️

❤️
❤️

Two days old, and already making the world a better place ❤️

Morning ❤️

Things that really matter come in twos. Eyes, ears, lungs and limbs, and kisses on the cheek, one on each. Yesterday our lovely Nancy gave birth to two beautiful golden puppies, a gentleman’s family, a little boy and a little girl. Life-changing puppies that will grow to grant the dreams of two small children and their wish to walk. We can’t wait to introduce them to Jasmine, and Fleur, what a joy it will be to see four generations of this wonderful family together, but for now, we’ll leave them alone to get to know their mum, and the world that they’re going to change. Dogs for the Disabled

So proud of little Noddy and his gorgeous girl Lily ❤️ Dogs for the Disabled Linda Norman

Puppy socialising is such hard work 😉

Ivy’s first ‘dad’ was PJ and we want to welcome puppy PJ, born this morning and the first of nine perfect pandemic puppies that will go on to change the lives of small children and help them fulfil their big dreams to walk. This little pup has much to live up to, and if he’s as loving and loyal as his namesake, who shares his birthday today, he’s going to make the most perfect partner!

Every calendar, every card, every donation makes dreams come true for children like Sophia and their dreams to be like every other child. Thank you, thank you, thank you ❤️

Like mother, like daughter! Happy birthday Nancy ❤️

Friends comes in all shapes and sizes ❤️

The boss is home!

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