THE PERFECT PARTNERSHIP FOR PERFECT TEAMWORK:
SUPPORT DOGS AND ADVOCATE

Life changed for Amy Williams and her family when she was just over 2 years old. A simple case of chickenpox led to the rare complication of encephalitis and eventually complex epilepsy and cerebral palsy. But after nearly 20 years of medical uncertainty and social isolation, life changed again—for the better.

“Stanley and Support Dogs changed my life around,” says Amy in an interview at her home in Gloucestershire.

Stanley is a seizure alert dog trained by Support Dogs, a UK charity dedicated to increasing independence and quality of life for people with various medical conditions. But this is actually Stanley’s second career. “He failed as a guide dog,” says Amy, “but met the needs of a seizure alert dog.”

And neither Stanley nor Amy have looked back since being partnered 7 years ago. While Stanley is Amy’s first dog, you would never know it now, as she describes him as her best friend and he even sleeps on her pillow every night. This is a far cry from the life Amy had before Stanley. “It was like living in a little bubble. I would never talk in public or get out,” Amy adds.

When asked what life was like before Stanley, Amy says she can barely remember it. “He gives me so much independence.” And that independence means less worry-–for Amy and her parents.

And to help support this mission, Elanco provide each Support Dog with Advocate, the once-a-month, broad spectrum solution, when prescribed via their veterinary practice. “Support Dogs devote their lives to protecting their owners, so helping protect them is the least we can do,” says the Elanco brand manager. “Here at Elanco we’re dedicated to giving back with our Healthy Purpose Scheme and we felt that the Support Dogs charity was a great fit for this partnership.”

Support Dogs added, “we are delighted that Elanco are able to offer this level of support, which will be greatly appreciated by our owners. The financial saving has a huge impact on a small charity like ours and is a great help to us during what is a difficult time for many charities.”

And no one wants to worry about parasites like lungworm. Especially Amy, who has more important things to focus on—like living a life beyond her epilepsy, with Stanley by her side.

For more information on how Advocate helps take the worry out of parasite protection.

To find out more about Support Dogs and how they change the lives of people like Amy.

Support Dogs is a national charity dedicated to increasing independence and quality of life for people with various medical conditions. They provide, train and support specialist assistance dogs to achieve this. Established in 1992, Support Dogs works across England, Scotland and Wales and provides all it services entirely free of charge to those in need of them.  However the charity relies solely on voluntary donations and receives no government funding.

Support Dogs specialises in 3 programmes:

• Autism assistance dogs for children with autism. The dogs are trained to provide safety for the child and reduce stress in social environments.
• Seizure alert dogs for people with epilepsy. the dogs are trained to provide a 100% reliable, up-to 50 minute-warning prior to the onset of an epileptic seizure. This enables them to find safety and be in control of their seizure, allowing a much more independent life.
• Disability assistance dogs for people with physical disabilities. A person’s own pet dog is trained to perform tasks which are specifically tailored to their individual needs, providing them with greater independence and safety.