They say dogs are man’s best friend, and that’s certainly true of Ola the labrador and owner Nicola Gibbs.

In fact, you would be hard pressed to find a more closely knit relationship between human and canine than this pair from Crayford.

Ola was partnered with Nicola, 48, in July 2014 to help her deal with multiple sclerosis, which she has lived with since the birth of her daughter in 1992.

Nicola said of the diagnosis: “I had a new baby I could hardly hold, I couldn’t go back to work, I was scared.

“My husband, who is a firefighter in London, managed to transfer employment to a station near home, which helps immensely. We had to pick ourselves up and carry on.

“I have always had animals in my life. Small ones, horse riding and, of course, dogs. MS was not going to change that.”

Nicola’s condition worsens with age, and her need for a canine companion is constant. Ola is the latest to give her the support she needs, lending her aid as she struggles with life bound to a wheelchair.

The pair were united by Canine Partners, which aims to assist people with disabilities to enjoy greater independence and a better quality of life.

Nicola said: “We completed a two-week on-site residential course at the charity’s southern centre in Heyshott, West Sussex, where I learned all the commands and tasks that Ola had been taught.

“Since bringing Ola home she can now find and bring me named items – the telephone when it rings, post, anything I drop on the floor, and opens and closes drawers and doors.

“She pushes buttons at zebra crossings, hands my purse to cashiers and takes items from shelves in supermarkets. At night she helps undress me for bed. The list can go on!”

Most importantly, though, Ola has given Nicola the confidence to leave the house and make the most of each day as it comes.

Nicola said: “Sometimes I still feel really low. I don’t want to go out and I don’t want to see people. It is very easy to stay home, I have even put off meeting with friends, but Ola looks at me and I know we have to go.”

“We have both worked so hard to be able to go out and I always feel better when we return home. I have achieved something.”

As Nicola and her husband prepare to move home, she’s more grateful than ever for the boost in confidence Ola has brought her.

“Ola loves to work and learn new things, it’s all a game,” she said. “She is trained to such a high standard I can be home alone or go out without my husband having to leave employment to be with me.

“Ola is by my side all the time, a brilliant companion and friend. My family and I say a massive thank you to everybody who has helped bring Ola into our lives.

“She has, almost, given me back my arms, legs and a life.”

Canine Partners is fundraising with a Christmas sale to celebrate the charity’s 25th anniversary. You can support the cause by picking up gifts at
caninepartners.org.uk/shop