“Ula and I work well together because we have an equal collaboration. Although we’ve only been dating for a short while, it already feels like a long time because she is my best friend and my confidante.
This is Ula and Owen Picker’s inspirational and motivational tale.
Owen, 21, of Lincoln, has cerebral palsy quadriplegia, which means he has trouble controlling his arms and legs. He has used a wheelchair constantly since he was 14 years old.
Nevertheless, none of this diminishes Owen’s potential to be a force to be reckoned with. After finishing his A-levels, he attended university and earned a degree in special education needs, disability, and inclusion. He is currently pursuing a master’s degree in the same field.
Owen and his mother watched a television program about service dogs when he was around 17 years old. “Mum and I decided to do some more research, and as a consequence, we learned about Dogs for Good,” Owen adds. We filled out an application despite knowing that there would likely be a lengthy wait, and after some time, we received an invitation to an informational day at the charity’s northern office, just outside Manchester.
That day taught Owen a lot. “The Information Day laid out quite clearly that having an assistance dog is a big responsibility and while they can help you with many practical tasks and will unquestionably enrich your life in their adorable four-legged way, they need you to love them, care for them, walk them, feed them, and take responsibility for their wellbeing and welfare,” said the information session’s organizer.
Owen’s application was accepted, and Dogs for Good added him to the waiting list. I was aware that all I could do was carry on with my life in the hopes that someday I would receive a call informing me that someone had acquired the ideal dog for me.
Owen continued with his A-levels and then moved into university residence halls. He acknowledges that attending university was a significant step and that he experienced loneliness and worry throughout his first year.
Things started to go better for Owen in his second year in Uni with the support of an amazing caretaker called Brendan.
“I started to get a little bit of my old determination back,” he said, “and took more of an interest in the life I could have at Uni.” I even ran for president of the student union, and today I serve as a senator for graduate students.
Although Owen’s mental health was better, he wasn’t really taking care of himself. “I was eating too many takeout meals, I didn’t maintain a clean and organized living area, and, although it’s tough to admit, I definitely developed the attitude that I didn’t need to do this since my caregivers would take care of it.
I truly didn’t have any feeling of purpose or a reason to get up in the morning, he admits, “I know it’s a cliché.
Early in 2020, however, Owen received the call he had been waiting for. “Dogs for Good called to let me know that they might have a match for me. And Ula, a stunning Labrador x Golden Retriever, was that match. I can still hear myself saying, “The wait is over! ’”
Ula was introduced to Owen by Dogs for Good to see if she felt at ease with him, and Owen has good memories of that day.
“We met in the Student Union café because it was quiet there,” he explains. She took a few sniffs around after being released from her leash before coming to me and curling up under my wheelchair’s footrests. I recalled thinking, “This is the calmest, most laid-back dog I’ve ever met.”
After that visit, Owen and Ula would have been reunited as quickly as possible under normal circumstances, but regrettably, Covid-19 meant that Owen’s wait went on for a few more months.
It was extremely irritating, but in the end, he says, he knew they would be together and that he just needed to be patient.
Ula and Owen were ultimately paired up in September 2020, and their relationship grew organically and fast.
She essentially assists me by picking up anything I drop, like my phone, controllers, and keys, as well as by helping me get dressed, opening and closing doors, etc.
She has also assisted me with my motivation for getting up in the morning because she requires breakfast and exercise. Additionally, she has assisted me in developing a feeling of accountability because I need to take care of myself and maintain a neat space for her safety and comfort.
Additionally, according to Owen, ensuring Ula’s requirements are addressed has helped him lay the groundwork for one day owning a home. It’s a symbiotic relationship; we’re an equal partnership. I need to make sure she’s okay, and by doing that, I also make sure I’m okay. Though we’ve only been dating for a short while, it already feels like a long time because she is my best friend and my confidante.
Owen is certain that care teams should be included in the collaboration and is willing to work with an assistance dog as well. Ula is obviously my dog, and I’m responsible for her, he explains.
“However, my caregivers share a workspace with her, so both the person and the dog need to be at ease and aware of how an assistance dog functions. Ula would become confused if her caretaker didn’t utilize the same verbal cues I use to make sure she understands what I’m asking of her, for instance.
Owen and Ula work with Dogs for Good Instructor Katie Anakin, who assists Owen in honing the task work that Ula can perform for him.
“Ula and Owen are head over heels in love,” she exclaims. Ula and Owen are fantastic together because Owen adores her. They bonded fairly immediately and they dote on one other — Ula almost moms Owen! – and it’s incredibly sweet to see how their relationship develops and grows.
According to Owen, he has been invited to carry the wedding rings during his closest friend’s wedding in 2023. “They were also looking for a flower girl, so I suggested that since Ula would already be there, why not ask her to do it? ’
Ula kindly consented, and she will transport the flowers in a tiny basket she will hold in her mouth. I’m eager to see that! ”
