'My support dog helped me succeed'

Wendy Martin credits her support dog, Penny for helping her pass her pilot officer course

Wendy Martin from Castle Vale in Birmingham has been involved with the Air Training Corps for more than four decades, but due to ill health, had to step back.

She has limited mobility due to disc degeneration in the base of her spine and neck, osteoarthritis and fibromyalgia, and uses either wheelchairs, crutches or a walking frame day-to-day.

After discovering that two local squadrons were disability-friendly, she decided to get involved again by taking a pilot officer course.

Having since passed the course, Ms Martin, 59, said her support dog Penny had helped her to succeed - and, she added, made her feel less invisible socially.

Penny, a fox red Labrador, was trained by the national charity Support Dogs.

She helps Ms Martin with many tasks, including dressing and undressing, picking up items, opening doors and fetching help.

"I wouldn't have been able to do it without Penny," she said.

Penny supported Ms Martin with her physical needs, as well as helping her socialise

Ms Martin volunteers with 479 Rubery Squadron and Edgbaston-based St Paul's School for Girls Combined Cadet Force.

"[Penny] went everywhere with me," she said.

"We were in lessons throughout the week and she had a reserved seat in the officers' mess, so whenever we went for breakfast or an evening meal, she had her own 'reserved' sign on the table.

"Everybody loved her."

She added that Penny had helped her adapt to the environment where she stayed while training.

"She helped me get undressed of an evening and she helped to pull me up out of the bed, which is lower than mine at home.

"She also helped to get my shoes and socks off."

Ms Martin said everyone loved Penny

The charity provides and trains assistance dogs to help autistic children and adults with epilepsy or physical disabilities.

It has been helping Ms Martin for 18 years.

One of her previous dogs, Kevin, became her carer when her marriage ended.

She said the dogs had also made her feel more involved socially after previously feeling "invisible" without a support dog by her side.