True Hope for Ruby’s glowing future after Support Dogs’ success

Having pet dog Hope trained by the Support Dogs charity has given Ruby Trueman the confidence to apply for her Masters’ degree.

And echoing her own experience, 23-year-old animal lover Ruby’s ultimate dream is to be able to help people with disabilities via the power of dogs.

Ruby, of Saltaire, Bradford, and four-year-old chocolate Labrador Hope recently qualified as a successful Support Dogs partnership, on the national charity’s disability assistance programme.

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

Sheffield-based Support Dogs 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 Ruby to undress, which Ruby will need more help with as her 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, she 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.

“I’m really excited for the doors that Hope’s training could open for me,”

said Ruby, who was a dog walker while at school and worked as a veterinary receptionist last year before the practice closed.

“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.”

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

“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, please call 0114 2617800 or visit www.supportdogs.org.uk