TWO years ago, Samuski was just another mongrel in an animal rescue home - now she's a vital part of her owners' life and wears her new yellow 'Support Dog' jacket with pride.

Samuski, a German shepherd-labrador cross, is one of the first dogs in East Lancashire to qualify as a disability assistance dog with the Support Dogs charity, which has given her training to help her owner live independently.

Pat Day, of Flood Dyke, Huncoat, has suffered from rheumatoid arthritis for 20 years and for the last seven has been forced into a wheelchair for most of the time.

But since Samuski has been helping out, Pat's life has improved no end.

It took six months for the clever pooch to learn how to open and shut doors, pick up dropped objects, fetch things when asked, load and empty a washing machine, fetch the telephone when it rings and help Pat to undress.

Pat, 52, and husband Richard, 57, who both work at Accrington Shopmobility, heard about Support Dogs at a mobility roadshow four years ago but their then pet alsatian Cassie was too old to train.

After Cassie died they adopted rescued dog Ben, a lurcher cross, who was given some training and is now a fund-raising dog with a green jacket. Six weeks later they took on Samuski.

Mrs Day said: "Sam is absolutely fantastic and I do not know what I would do without her. She is loving and very loyal.

" It is very reassuring she is there to help me all the time.

"It's so clever how she puts her head into the washing machine and passes me the clothes. She Also picks things up if I drop them.

" And if I say, 'Get post', she gets the post. She does anything."

"Before Samuski I just had to somehow manage and it put a strain on my husband. Now it's so much better."

"She can't make the tea yet but we're working on it," she joked.

Mr Day said: "Sam has improved Pat's life immensely as she provides interim caring and makes her feel confident enough to go out. She also alleviates problems for me as she helps with the little things such as taking off Pat's jacket when we get in which saves time for me to do other things.

"These dogs also make disabled people feel more safe because if they are out and drop something they don't need to struggle as the dog will retrieve it for them."

Any dog under the age of four can be trained by Support Dogs. to wear the . After getting know their new masters at home, there is a period of advanced training at the charity's base in the John Fisher Centre, Sheffield.

A final assessment is then carried out before the dog qualifies and earns its yellow jacket embossed with the Registered Assistance Dog logo. There are only four other dogs with this qualification in East Lancashire.

To find out more about the charity and how to support its work call 0114 257 7997 or write to The John Fisher Centre, Trianco House, Thorncliffe Park Estate, Chapeltown, Sheffield, S35 2PH.