You Are Here : Cheryl Smith & Canine Partner "Orca"
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Cheryl Smith & Canine Partner "Orca"
“We seem to be able to read each others minds”
Cheryl completed a degree in Chemistry and is accompanied wherever she goes by golden retriever Orca. The two had only been partnered together for 2 months when Orca became a canine hero by rescuing Cheryl from a life-threatening situation.
The two had been enjoying an afternoon out near her home in York when Cheryl’s wheelchair hit a brick and fell 20 feet down an embankment. Cheryl was trapped in the water filled ditch under the weight of the chair unable to move.
She gave Orca the ‘Get help’ command and he ran to find someone to help. The first person Orca met thought the dog was lost and took hold of his collar to take him home. Against his training, Orca pulled free and returned to check on Cheryl before running off to find someone else. He found a jogger and, again against his training, he jumped up at the man and barked until the man realised Orca wanted him to follow him. The jogger did so and when he found Cheryl, immediately called the rescue services.
“Since that incredible day,” adds Cheryl, “my relationship with Orca has become even stronger and we seem to be able to read each others minds. Just a look or a frown or a gesture and he knows exactly what I am asking him to do. He’s got such a wonderful sense of humour and he really knows how to make me laugh by throwing a toy at me and urging me to play. He’s great at bringing everything I ask him to except for the time when I sent him to fetch kitchen roll and ended up unravelling it through the house!”
“It’s a strange thing how being in a wheelchair can make people shy about approaching you, but Orca changes all that. I simply cannot remember what life was like without him as he is now always by my side and does so much for me.”
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Canine Partners for Independence. Registered in England No. 2516146. Charity Commission Registered No. 803680. Scottish Registered Charity No. SCO39050
