How miracle Support Dog Poppy changed Bobbie’s life

When Bobbie and Jenny Hubbard-Marks welcomed Labrador puppy Poppy into the lives, they could never have known what an impact she would have.

As, in Bobbie’s words, Poppy is the “miracle” walking beside her.

Five years ago the couple, from Chapeltown in Sheffield, were on holiday in Bulgaria when a fall left Bobbie, 61, paralysed from the waist down. Bobbie had recently retired from nursing, where she’d spent time as a combat medical technician, and was also a volunteer nurse in the former Yugoslavia, and the couple had just bought a small farm. It was a life-changer.

After months of hospital stays and operations, back at home and settling into their new life, they decided to get a dog, to provide both comfort and company to Bobbie, who was very much restricted to the house.

At four months old, Poppy was not your average puppy.

Bobbie said: “When we went to see her for the first time, Jenny brought her out to the car and she just sat down and looked straight at me. Dogs don’t often make eye contact, and I thought right away, ‘there’s something special about her’.

“Puppies are usually naughty but she was so calm, and clever too, picking up anything we taught her.”

So when she saw an article about Sheffield-based charity Support Dogs, which trains disability assistance dogs, she knew Poppy would be perfect.

Support Dogs is unusual for an assistance dog charity as it does not breed. Dogs either come from rescue centres or, like in Hubbard-Marks’ case, are family pets who are deemed suitable for training. This Christmas the Yorkshire Post is aiming to raise up to £20,000 to pay for the training of a support dog for a Yorkshire family. Training can be tough, and lengthy, and after multiple assessments and lots of form-filling, Poppy was accepted onto the Support Dogs training programme - although because of her young age, after passing her entrance tests, they had to wait until she was 18 months old before the proper training could begin. They also had to wait for funds to be available, but in a stroke of luck, were offered funding by Sheffield Mutual Friendly Society.

Bobbie said: “The first time we went to the centre, for two days of assessments, the trainers did simple little tests with Poppy and we’d sit and watch with our mouths wide open, thinking ‘is this our dog?’ She was amazing.

“Once the funding was in place she went away for four weeks, and we couldn’t have any contact. It was really strange not to have her with us, but she was off having a ball. ” That intensive training was followed by a fortnight of training back with Bobbie and Jenny, where everything from commands and rewards, to trips to shopping centres and cinemas, were explored with the the help of their trainer, Tracey.

“It was a fantastic experience. It was quite taxing at times, like being back at school. But it was enjoyable and it was amazing to see how far Poppy had come.”

Training also threw up amusing moments. At first, Poppy would bark incessantly whenever she saw someone in a full-face helmet, so Tracey would come to the door wearing one.

“The neighbours must have thought we were a bit strange,” said Bobbie.

“Jenny would put it on too and hide around a corner, it was all to get Poppy used to them, so she wouldn’t bark when we were out.She was meteoric in the training. We started in March last year, and by November, she was qualified.”

Poppy is now three and a half and helping Bobbie in more ways than they could have imagined.

Each door at their home has a string with a pompom on the end so Poppy can open it, closing it again with her nose, she can pick up anything from the phone to a penny piece, she helps Bobbie dress and undress, loads the washing machine, and much more than that, her skills mean Bobbie can leave the house on her own with confidence,

“Before, Jenny felt she couldn’t leave me in case I fell or something happened, but now, because Poppy is with me, she knows I’ll be fine, as Poppy can get help if I need it.”

There are two ways Poppy can help, either by ‘speaking’ on command - loudly barking to get attention, or by finding someone to help. She’ll sit in front of the nearest person and put her paws up on them until they follow. It’s something they have to practice, and Jenny can often be found hiding in the garden shed to make sure that Poppy’s finding skills are up to scratch should Bobbie need them.But Poppy is more than a working dog. She is part of the family.

Jenny, 64, said: “For me, the best thing she does is make Bobbie smile. She gives her a reason to get up in the morning.”

Bobbie happily admits Poppy, and Support Dogs, have “transformed” her life.

“They have taken a little dog and turned her into a miracle walking beside me, and for that I am very grateful,” she said. “She is such a character and always makes me laugh. The first thing she does in the morning is come into the bedroom to pass me my slippers - but before she does that she checks herself out in the mirror!

“I class myself as incredibly lucky to have her - and Support Dogs.”

Each week in Saturday’s edition of The Yorkshire Post we will reveal 10 new lots up for grabs in our Christmas Charity Auction for Support Sogs. Bidding closes at 5pm the following Friday and then the next day another 10 exciting lots will be unveiled.To bid visit www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/appeal. Keep up to speed with what’s on offer on twitter @yorkshirepost #YPxmasauction and also follow us on Facebook.

You can donate at www.supportdogs.org.uk/donate or Text DOGY15 £5 to 70070 to donate £5 or send a cheque to Support Dogs to Support Dogs, 21 Jessops Riverside, Brightside Lane, Sheffield, S9 2RX marked The Yorkshire Post appeal.