THE PERFECT PARTNERSHIP FOR PERFECT TEAMWORK:
SUPPORT DOGS AND ADVOCATE
Escaping the bubble
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.
But not only does Amy get out, she says Stanley has given her the confidence to meet friends, and even speak at schools and events in front of thousands of people. That’s because although Amy doesn’t know when a seizure is coming, Stanley does. He senses small changes in her movement and alerts her or her family. Something as simple as a phone ringing or a cat sneezing can trigger an episode, and that unpredictability made life very difficult and limiting for Amy. But Stanley has helped her tear down barriers and push through those limits . “I’ve been to Crufts 3 times and to the House of Commons,” Amy says, “he makes me feel very safe.”
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.
One less worry
Given the reliance Amy and her family have on Stanley, his health is a priority for them. As long as Stanley is healthy, Amy emphasises, she can “rely on him to be there when I need him most.” And a key part of Stanley’s health is parasite treatment.
That’s why Stanley uses Advocate for his parasite treatment. ”He’s healthy and it’s nice to not worry about him,” Amy adds.
Chris Daykin, Support Dogs Corporate Partnerships Manager, said: “Routine parasite protection is important to help ensure our dogs remain healthy and can provide the essential support needed by their owners.”
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.
About Support Dogs
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.
Putting your trust in Advocate
Advocate materials.
Get the full resources on MyElanco:
Advocate Lungworm PR Guide
A step-by-step guide on creating a lungworm press release. (pdf)
Advocate Lungworm Social Media Guide
A step-by-step guide to getting the most from your social media activity. (pdf)
Act Against Lungworm Social Media Toolkit
Use our pre-made social media posts to raise lungworm awareness with your clients.
Advocate Mini Detailer
Key information about Advocate for vets and nurses presented in a mini detailer.
Advocate Post-Prescription Leaflet
A leaflet providing pet owners with post-prescription information about Advocate. (pdf)
Advocate Lungworm Map
A map of the UK and Ireland showing the number of reported cases of potentially fatal lungworm in dogs. (pdf)
*Restrictions apply, see www.amazon.co.uk/gc-legal
References:
1. Elanco Animal Health. Lungworm market research 2023.
2. Kirk L et al., Vet Rec (2014), 175(5):118
3. Schnyder M, et al., Vet Parasitol. 2009;166(3-4):326-332.
Advocate™ contains imidacloprid and moxidectin and is indicated for use in cats, ferrets and dogs suffering from, or at risk from, mixed parasitic infections. Legal category POM-V (UK). Refer to the product packaging and leaflets for information about side effects, precautions, warnings and contraindications.
Advocate™, Elanco™ and the diagonal bar are trademarks of Elanco or its affiliates.
PM-UK-24-0227
