As a young man, 42-year-old Rob from Leicester had built his life around fitness and sports. As a Royal Marines Commando, he competed in 400m hurdles, rugby, cross-country, and skiing, representing the British Military around the world. In his spare time, he loved adrenaline-fuelled activities like scuba diving and sky diving.
After leaving the Marines, Rob moved into the medical sector, working as an ambulance technician and later training staff at University Hospitals of Nottinghamshire in cardiac and trauma care.
Then in 2008, aged 24 and just one week into starting a nursing degree at Leicester University, Rob was hit by a car. He suffered a traumatic brain injury, serious injuries to his legs, and was in a coma for nine-months. His doctors didn’t expect him to survive.
When I finally woke, they warned that I may never speak or walk again. The outlook was grim
Against the odds, Rob did survive. A year later, he spoke his first words. After two years of intensive rehabilitation, he was finally discharged from hospital. But leaving hospital didn’t mean life went back to normal.
Rebuilding his life
Rob gradually relearned how to walk, but his balance was unpredictable. Outside the house, even simple trips could feel risky.
Crowded streets, busy shops and public transport became difficult to manage. “Because my disabilities aren’t visible, people don’t always realise I need support. He often avoided going out unless he had someone with him and his world became much smaller. “I wasn’t fully housebound, but it often felt that way. A slight bump in a busy street could make me stumble or fall.”
Over time, Rob started to lose confidence in situations he couldn’t control. The more he worried about falling, the harder it became to feel safe leaving the house.
Meeting Merredge
In 2013, Rob was partnered with his first canine partner, Merredge.
He gave me confidence to go out again. Before him, I barely left the house. Once he arrived, I was hardly home.
Merredge supported Rob with practical tasks – picking things up so he didn’t have to struggle, retrieving things from low shelves and helping Rob up if he fell. But for Rob, the biggest change was how different the outside world felt with a dog beside him. “With his jacket, people understood why I walked slower or looked unsteady. They gave me time. They gave me space.”
That simple change made public places safer. Rob no longer felt rushed, judged or vulnerable. Merredge also became well-known locally and helped educate people that some disabilities are invisible.
Saying yes again
Merredge didn’t just help Rob manage daily life, he also helped him feel more confident as a dad to his young son
My son was born around the time of my accident, so I never had the chance to be a hands-on dad. Before Merredge, I hesitated to take my son out. But with him by my side, I could say yes.
Trips to the park, walks down the street, and family outings that once felt overwhelming became possible again, without constant worry about falling or needing help.
Life without Merredge
In August 2024, Merredge passed away. “Life became lonely and dark. Without him, the old anxieties came back.”
Rob noticed the difference immediately, everyday routines felt harder. Public transport became stressful again and his confidence began to slip. “Drivers on buses pulled away before I could sit, and I fell more than once. My four-legged social shield was gone, and I lost my confidence.”
A new chapter with Eddy
In October 2024, Rob was partnered with his successor dog, Eddy. “If I’d had to wait years for another dog, I would have shut myself away again. Eddy didn’t just replace practical help – he restored my confidence, my independence and my sense of purpose.”
With Eddy by his side, daily life feels safer and more manageable again. Rob can head into town or visit his local café, where they have both become familiar faces. With Eddy there, he feels reassured and able to enjoy those everyday outings that once felt out of reach. “Even simple trips out feel easier. They feel purposeful.”
And in unfamiliar places, Eddy helps people understand that Rob may need extra time or space, without him having to explain.
Looking forward
Rob has always wanted to help other people. Today, with Eddy by his side, he is training as a person-centred counsellor and volunteers for Canine Partners.
“I’ve spent my life helping others and volunteering means I can still do that. It’s my way of saying thank you for Merredge and Eddy, and helping others to receive the same support I did.”
For Rob, his canine partners have made it possible for him to live life on his own terms once again.
Because of Canine Partners I can live my life to the fullest. I’m welcomed in my community, not just tolerated. Merredge and Eddy have given me back my independence, my safety, and my ability to be fully present for my family.
