Transforming lives with canine companions
We proudly sponsor Support Dogs, a national charity that improves the lives of children and adults with various challenging medical conditions. This partnership truly enriches the lives of those supported.
Since 2019, we’ve sponsored Support Dogs to help provide, train, and support specialist assistance dogs, enabling people with epilepsy, autism, or other disabilities to lead richer, more independent lives.
The dogs offer vital support, from calming children in distressing situations and alerting owners to seizures, to helping with daily tasks like dressing or loading the washing machine. Through direct sponsorship, fundraising, and our employees volunteering at events, we continue to contribute to Support Dog’s incredible work to provide trained dogs that can support people by performing tasks tailored to an individual’s specific needs.
How Wadsley gave Brogan her life back
Aiden’s story:
bringing calm and confidence to a young boy
Canon Medical UK named and sponsored Conan, an adorable labrador, in his training to become a support dog. We have followed his journey from an 8-week-old puppy to a fully qualified support dog that has transformed Aiden’s life.
Aiden, a young boy with autism, struggles immensely with attending medical appointments due to stress and anxiety. However, when autism assistance dog Conan joined the family, everything changed.
Trained and provided by Support Dogs, Conan helps Aiden stay calm and safe, making once-dreaded doctor trips possible. Aiden now faces these situations confidently with his ‘best friend’ Conan, and meltdowns that once felt overwhelming are rare.
“Having Conan has just been life-changing for us and we can’t thank Support Dogs and Canon enough. No one was expecting Conan to change Aiden’s life as much as he has.”
– Samantha, Aiden’s mother
Aiden’s safety awareness has improved, and he no longer runs away from his parents like he used to. Conan keeps Aiden safe and calm during overwhelming situations, making previously impossible tasks possible. Truly remarkable.
Our newest recruit: Kibo
Kibo is Canon’s latest recruit, following Conan’s pawprints. A yellow Labrador, Kibo represents not only the creativity of our employees but also our shared commitment to enriching every life we touch.
Named through an employee-driven competition, ‘Kibo’ was selected from numerous thoughtful suggestions. Participants donated to Support Dogs and shared heartwarming photos of themselves with animals as part of the competition.
One of our Ultrasound Applications Specialists submitted the winning name and recently had the opportunity to meet Kibo, who is excelling in his training. Kibo means ‘hope’ in Japanese, which aligns perfectly with what this puppy will bring to someone’s life. As Kibo progresses, he shows excellent potential to become a life-changing companion for someone facing disability, autism, or seizures.
Impacting lives beyond hospitals
It takes up to two years to train a puppy and build a partnership with a human. After this, Support Dogs provides ongoing support for the dog’s, on average, eight-year working career.
These dogs enrich the lives of individuals with disabilities and their families by helping them perform daily activities many of us take for granted.
Not only do assistance dogs enrich the quality of life, but the wider health economy benefits too, with Support Dogs estimating a £19 million annual saving to the NHS.
“For those living with constant anxiety, isolation, or illness, a support dog can be a lifeline, bringing so much positive change to their daily lives. Our mission to enrich lives goes beyond simply providing diagnostic imaging systems, we have a responsibility to foster good health and wellbeing in every way we can. We’re proud to sponsor a puppy through its two-year specialist training because we know that for someone, it will make life better.”
– Mark Hitchman, Managing Director of Canon Medical Systems UK