Our Otter House pupils watched in fascinated silence as a dog collected letters from a doormat and skilfully removed laundry from a washing machine, before going on to take a pair of gloves from a chest of drawers.

The dog had been specially trained to assist people with disabilities, enabling them to enjoy greater independence and a better quality of life.

Mrs Cherry Gillband of Canine Partners, a Midhurst-based charity, visited the school to show Otter House pupils just how dogs could be taught to provide support for people with limited mobility. Her daughter Melissa, a Year 10 pupil in Otter House, assisted with the demonstration.

Since their launch in 1991, Canine Partners have placed over 140 trained dogs around the UK. The charity relies on public support for its funding, so the students of Otter House agreed that this year the proceeds from their annual Valentine’s Day rose delivery service would be used to help train yet more dogs to carry out their life-enhancing work.

Article and picture - Mr G Lewis, School Press Officer

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This photo is posted in the Picture Gallery PhotoGallery.