Peterborough woman with rare neurological condition becomes the face of assistance dog charity

Samantha Blunt, from Whittlesey, says her assistance dogs have given her “the freedom to truly live again” by helping her to remain in her own home.

The 49 year-old lives with a rare neurological condition called Dystonia – a progressive condition causing painful muscle contractions and severe physical disability.

She and her labradoodle Hank were chosen as one of the faces of Canine Partners’ new national campaign, highlighting the life-changing impact of assistance dogs. The charity matches people with a variety of physical disabilities with expertly-trained assistance dogs.

As part of its recent rebrand, the charity selected Samantha and Hank to shine a light on the real-life impact their dogs make every day. The pair took part in a photoshoot that was turned into an illustration featured on the charity’s website, social media and fundraising materials.

Samantha’s story

Samantha was once living an active life working with children as a nursery nurse. But in 2002 she was diagnosed with Dystonia.

“There’s no cure and I was told it would get worse,” she said.

Over time, Samantha lost the use of her hands, struggled to walk and eventually became unable to stand. As her condition progressed, she relied heavily on her mum for care. But after her mum’s sudden passing in 2007, Samantha was left to navigate life alone as her needs increased. Her world quickly became smaller and her confidence disappeared.

“I was really struggling,” she recalled. “Simple things were exhausting and frustrating. I couldn’t even pick things up if I dropped them.”

That changed in 2015 when she was partnered with Bugsy, her first Canine Partners assistance dog.

A spokesperson for Canine Partners said: “Bugsy transformed her daily life – helping with practical tasks like picking up dropped items, opening doors and raising the alarm in an emergency. With Bugsy by her side, Samantha regained confidence, dignity and the freedom to live more independently.

“After more than a decade together, Bugsy retired in 2025, remaining with Samantha as a much-loved companion. Soon after, she was partnered with Hank, a black Labradoodle.”

Samantha said: “I was over the moon. Nothing could replace Bugsy, but I knew Hank would change my life too”.

Like Bugsy, Hank supports Samantha with daily tasks she can’t manage alone. 

“Without Hank, I would be totally reliant on another person and facing the possibility of life in a care home,” Samantha said. “We go out every day together – to the park, on long walks or just out and about in the community.”  

Samantha now has the independence to stay in her own home and enjoy life with Hank and retired Bugsy. Together, the trio now give back to their community, regularly visiting local nursing homes to bring comfort and companionship to residents.

The spokesperson continued: “Samantha’s story is one of resilience, but also of the life-changing impact of assistance dogs. Living with Dystonia has meant constantly adapting as her condition has deteriorated – losing mobility, independence and the life she once knew. But with Bugsy and Hank, she has regained so much.”

“They’re not just assistance dogs, they’re my family,” Samantha added. “Thanks to them, I’ve got my independence back and the freedom to truly live again.”

Canine Partners relies entirely on donations to breed, train and support their assistance dogs. To support the charity, visit its website.