Penny & Michael Stanley

I took early severance from fulltime work nearly 3 years ago and was very keen to get a dog as I was going to be at home. I saw an ADNI information stand in my local shopping centre and they were looking for fosterers for their puppies.  When I read the leaflet, I knew it was something really worthwhile I could do with my time.

I love having a pup in the house and my whole family are enjoying the process.  It can be very hard work but also so rewarding as the pups grow and mature.  My young grandsons are great at preparing the puppies to cope with children.

I take the pup to training class one morning a week which is great fun as the puppies see their brothers and sisters and we can encourage and learn from each other’s experiences.  I also attend awareness/fundraising events.  The charity is very supportive and available for any queries I may have.

Since I started volunteering with the charity I have made some good friends and met amazing families which has given me a much better understanding about autism and how the assistance dogs make an incredible difference to the lives of the children who get them.

Obviously, the dogs are young and energetic and need good quality downtime to run and swim and generally be fit and healthy animals.  This gives my husband and I much needed exercise no matter the weather, which keeps us fitter too and avoids us having to pay gym fees!

When I have been out with the pups wearing their lovely ADNI purple coats I have had great conversations with the public, who always want to know about them.  Sometimes I have to remind them the dogs are training so they can look but not touch!