Molly, assistance dog to ICPCN Global Youth Ambassador, Lucy Watts MBE, has been awarded the PDSA* Order of Merit, the animal equivalent of an OBE (Order of the British Empire). Molly is only the fourth dog and fourteenth animal to receive the PDSA Order of Merit. The Medal is awarded to recognise animals that have shown outstanding acts of devotion and that symbolise the special relationship between animals and humans.
Lucy has Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome along with numerous other health complications, which are life-limiting. As a strong advocate for hospice and palliative care for children and young adults she was appointed as the International Children’s Palliative Care Global Youth Ambassador in 2014. Lucy was awarded an MBE in 2016 in recognition of the tireless advocacy work she does for numerous charities, including Together for Short Lives and ICPCN.
Molly was initially bought as a pet and arrived as a mischievous eight-week-old puppy, immediately lifting Lucy’s spirits. When she was 10-months-old she began working with Dog Assistance In Disability (Dog A.I.D), who help people with disabilities to train their pet dogs to become Assistance Dogs.
Molly’s skills are now a lifeline to Lucy on a daily basis, she supports and helps Lucy with everyday tasks that would otherwise be impossible. Molly also protects Lucy, warning her when her temperature spikes or her blood pressure drops.
Lucy writes about Molly:
I am so proud that Molly has been awarded the “Animal OBE”, the PDSA Order of Merit. She makes such a difference to my life, not just through physical assistance but through the emotional support and confidence she gives me.
She transformed my life from one spent mostly in bed with no focus or purpose in my life, to a new, fulfilling life. I went from being bed bound, to forcing myself to sit up to take Molly for walks. She came into my life at a time when I needed something to pick me up, and boy did she do that. We got her as a family pet, but she has gone on to fulfil an extraordinary destiny as my Assistance Dog.
Molly turned four on the 18th January, we will have had her four years in March. Those four years have been the best of my life. If it weren’t for Molly I would not have started working with Together for Short Lives, and thus the International Children’s Palliative Care Network and all the other charities I have worked with and hold positions within. Without Molly, I would not have received an MBE in the 2016 New Years Honours – a huge achievement for someone of any age, let alone 22 as I was when I received it. I owe so much to Molly.
She makes me feel less of a burden as, if I drop something for the umpteenth time, a human carer can get frustrated. Conversely, to Molly it is such a wonderful game that the more times I drop something, the better! I don’t feel guilty and apologise for asking for her help, she loves to help and it’s one fantastic, exciting game to her. Not only that, she loves to please, and gets ever so excited that she’s helped her mum.
Molly is my whole life, and she makes my life whole. I will never be able to repay her for what she’s done for me. I am delighted she has been recognised for her outstanding devotion to duty, as my companion and as my Assistance Dog.
To read more about the amazing Molly and watch a video of the presentation of her PDSA Order of Merit Medal, click here.
*PDSA is the UK’s leading veterinary charity, treating nearly 500,000 pets a year across its 51 Pet Hospitals. The charity strives to improve all pets’ lives through education, preventive care and emergency treatment.
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