Hope for Ruby thanks to Support Dogs charity

A FORMER veterinary nurse whose pet dog Hope was trained by the Support Dogs charity to help her live independently for the first time is now aiming for a master's degree.

Ruby Trueman, from Saltaire, Bradford, is preparing for the next stage of her life, safe in the knowledge that her four-year-old chocolate Labrador can assist with day-to-day tasks.

And the 23-year-old hopes to one day achieve her ambition of helping people with disabilities live a fulfilling life with the assistance of trained support dogs.

Ruby has Friedrich’s Ataxia, a rare neurodegenerative disorder that primarily affects the nervous system, leading to difficulty with movement and co-ordination.

Both Ruby and Hope recently qualified as a successful Support Dogs partnership, on the national charity’s disability assistance programme.

The Sheffield-based charity trains and provides specialist assistance dogs to help autistic children and people living with epilepsy or a physical disability to live safer, more independent lives.

Hope has been trained to pick up dropped items, open doors and fetch help if Ruby has a fall. She can also help her owner to undress, something that will become increasingly difficult as the condition progresses.

Having enjoyed a typical childhood, Ruby was unaware of her condition until she was diagnosed at 16.

She had just thought herself clumsy and she would disguise symptoms by concentrating harder on her walking and balance.

But when she was 18, Ruby noticed her symptoms more, including loss of co-ordination and balance when she was tired.

Her condition is progressive and last October, she started to use a rollator walking aid full-time. Prior to that, she would occasionally use a walking stick.

Ruby says that eventually, she will most likely be a full-time wheelchair user, but that has not dampened her spirits - in fact having Hope trained has sparked her optimism for the future.

Ruby, who was a dog walker while at school and worked as a veterinary receptionist last year before the practice closed, said: "I’m really excited for the doors that Hope’s training could open for me.

"At the moment I’m out of work and out of study and since she’s graduated, I’ve applied for my Masters in Clinical Animal Behaviour. I feel like I could do it if I have Hope by my side."

Ruby, who has a Batchelor’s degree in animal husbandry and welfare, has been offered a place at the University of Lincoln and is weighing up her options.

She said: "I would love to work in behaviour and welfare. I would love to do a job where I could help disabled people with their dogs and training, similar to what Support Dogs does.

"Having Hope trained makes me feel more confident in many ways and hopeful for my future.

"I’m moving out from home to live independently for the first time. I can only do that because she is trained. It’s just changed everything in terms of my confidence."

Ruby, who initially applied to Support Dogs in 2022, said: "Support Dogs has been amazing in terms of helping myself and Hope and all the work they do is really great.

"With me having a progressive condition, my abilities in terms of training and what I need have changed. All the staff have been great with that, in terms of adapting.

"I think it’s taken me and Hope a bit longer than most to graduate because of that, but no one ever gave up on us, which is really, really nice and really appreciated."

To find out more about the work of Support Dogs, call 0114 2617800 or visit www.supportdogs.org.uk