Hazel, from Shropshire, has always been determined to live life on her own terms. Even as her health deteriorated, she refused to let it stop living the life she loves.
Living with osteoporosis and arthritis has made everyday life unpredictable and, at times, dangerous for Hazel. “I can’t walk very far without getting out of breath. My break bones easily and my joints don’t support me properly, so I fall over a lot. I use a wheelchair most of the time.”
Hazel was diagnosed with osteoporosis in 2009, she had to give up the activities she loved. “The diagnosis affected everything in my life. I couldn’t horse ride anymore because my bones were too brittle, and I had to give up swimming.”
Over time, daily life became harder. Despite everything, Hazel was determined to stay independent and connected to the outside world. She continued to see friends, attend clubs and take part in village life, but it was not easy.
Getting dressed, getting into my wheelchair, or even going out of my front door and closing it behind me, all of it was difficult and exhausting
The smallest tasks could leave her in pain. “It really made my joints hurt. Little simple things felt like a marathon.”
Hazel’s daughter lived nearby and helped with shopping and other things Hazel couldn’t manage alone. There were moments that brought home just how much independence she had lost. “I always had to have someone here when I had a shower, just in case I needed help. I hated that.”
Meeting Questa
A friend of Hazel’s had an assistance dog from Canine Partners. Seeing the difference that partnership made encouraged her to apply.
In March 2018, she was partnered with Questa, a black Labrador cross Golden Retriever. “When I met her, it was love at first sight. She had this cute little face and eyes that just stared at me. She sat next to me and we looked at each other.”
Their first walk together, a short trip to the local sports centre, took much longer than usual. “Everyone in the village stopped to say hello to her. And people spoke to me again, rather than the person I was with, and that was brilliant.” It was a small shift, but an important one.
Questa quickly began helping with everyday tasks that had previously caused her difficulty and pain. “She would shut the front door for me, so I didn’t struggle trying to do it from my wheelchair.” She could fetch Hazel’s phone, making it possible for Hazel to have the privacy of showering alone for the first time in years. “I felt safe and secure with her there.”
Questa was also trained to retrieve Hazel’s nebuliser for her asthma. When Hazel woke in the night struggling to breathe, that support was lifesaving.
Before Questa, I would have needed an ambulance. But because she could get my nebuliser, I no longer needed to call for help. Over time she learned to tell when I needed it. I’d wake up breathless and she’s already got it for me.
For Hazel’s family, the reassurance was significant. “They didn’t have to check on me as much because Questa was there, she them their life back as well.”
Not long after Questa arrived, Hazel broke three vertebrae in her back and had to give up bowls. It was a huge blow, but Questa helped her focus on something new. After seeing a poster for a fun dog show, Hazel decided to enter. “At that very first show, she got Reserve Best in Show.”
What began as a one-off soon became a regular part of their lives. Hazel and Questa went on to compete in more shows and took up Rally (a relaxed and accessible form of obedience, where handlers guide their dogs through a course of exercises focused on teamwork). “Questa gave me the confidence to try new things. Because of her, I replaced my old hobbies with new ones and gained new friends.”
Questa would approach strangers for help if Hazel fell while out, meaning she could leave the house independently. When Hazel suffered an open fracture in her arm after falling in a car park, Questa stayed by her side until help arrive.
In 2022, Questa passed away suddenly at just five-years-old, and her loss was devastating. “It was so difficult when Questa died. My whole life revolved around her.”
A new chapter with Tink
With a successor dog likely to take more than two years, Hazel felt the gap would be too difficult to manage. She decided to get a puppy, Tinkerbell (affectionately known as Tink) and began training her. When Tink was two and a half, she took part in Canine Partners’ Applicant Owned Dog trial, a new initiative that allows suitable pet dogs to be trained as assistance dogs.
Tink was the first dog to complete the programme, qualifying as a Canine Partner in 2024
It’s been incredible watching Tink follow in Questa’s pawprints. She’s always been an amazing companion, but now she can support me in more practical ways, especially out in public. She’s given me independence all over again.
Living independently
Looking back, Hazel can see the lasting impact her canine partners have had on her life. When things felt difficult and uncertain, Questa brought reassurance and freedom. Today, Tink continues that support, helping Hazel maintain the independence and social life that matters so much to her. She joins Hazel at her weekly social group, retrieving dropped dominoes or coins when needed, allowing Hazel to take part independently and with confidence.
For Hazel, a canine partner represents far more than practical help. It is about feeling safe in her own home, confident out in the community and able to live life on her own terms. “Questa and Tink changed everything for me. They have both been my world.”
