Our Oliver's Army Assistance and Therapy Dogs Head Office, based in Crosshill, Fife.
Joanne (Jo) has worked with dogs most of her life , rehoming rescues when she was younger. She is now fully accredited by Kennel Club in Companion Dogs and Assistance Dogs. She has also completed her examiners course in Kennel Club's Bronze, Silver and Gold.
Tracy started as a handler for her own Assistance dog, Marley. We asked her to take over as manager in 2021.
Tracy is busy making improvements to the charity to help it run more smoothly which allows more time for trainers to spend working with the dogs.
She also works with schools with her dog, Marley as a Therapy Dog.
Megan started her journey in 2017.
She has trained her own Assistance dog and realised the benefits to a handler. She wanted to help and support people through their own handler experience. Megan is now working with handlers from Puppy to Public Access level.
Ciara came on board as a work experience student from a local college in 2021.
Ciara has thrived as a student trainer and has trained her own Assistance Dog. She has now come on board as a volunteer supporting our families from Puppy to Public Access.
Charlene came on board 2018. She started by training her own assistance dog through the charity and decided to take on the challenges of a trainer. Charlene enjoys teaching and watching handlers grow through the process. Charlene enjoys a challenge and finds working for the charity very rewarding.
Grace is the grandaughter of Joanne and has always been involved from the beginning of Oliver's Army Assistance Dogs. Grace has worked through the programme with her dog Hamish and is now learning to become a trainer to support others. She has also completed the Therapy programme and helps out at events, showing the advantages of a Therapy dog.
Nikki is one of our newest student trainers. Nikki started with the charity training her own dog with her partner. She could see all the benefits that training your own dog had and wanted to get more involved and help others. Nikki got straight to work with training and is now taking on training classes in Puppy Foundation.
Cass joined us in 2021 and has been a great asset to the team. He assists the trainers in the classes and is currently learning to train a dog to get the whole experience.
Chantel is one of our biggest advocates. She has trained her own dogs both Assistance and Therapy. She helps with promoting and fundraising.
Amanda came on board in 2023 and trained her dog, Addison to Therapy level. She now works in high schools with Addison representing Oliver's Army Assistance and Therapy Dogs.
Paula came on board to train her dog, Kano as a Therapy Dog. After completing the programme she now works in a care home with Kano showing residents how much of a gentle giant he is.
Based at The Animal Behaviour Centre, Northwich
Christine has many years’ experience of conventional animal training and therapy methods as well as having a keen interest in holistic science and alternative therapies which she combines through non-invasive treatments. She also holds many qualifications and is a Kennel Club accredited Instructor, KCAI at advanced levels in Companion Dog Training and The Kennel Club Good Citizens awards. Christine is also a KCAI assessor and Kennel Club Judge; her previous roles have included that of KCAI Regional Mentor. Working with a varied client base including many clients that experience mental or physical difficulties Christine trains both assistance and therapy dogs. She is also a qualified ‘Pets as Therapy’ assessor and Dog Aid Trainer.
David has worked extensively within the realm of animal behavior and holds many certificates and qualifications. David is accredited by The Kennel Club through The Kennel Club accreditation Scheme KCAI at advanced levels in Companion Dog Training, The Kennel Club Good Citizen Scheme and Behavioral Training.
David is not only a Kennel Club assessor and judge but has previously been a KCAI Board member, KCAI regional Mentor and a member of the KCAI marketing and communication working party.
David enjoys working with both Therapy and Assistance dogs, NHS patients and is a qualified ‘Pets as Therapy assessor’ and Dog First Aid Instructor.
Amy has been with Oliver's Army Assistance and Therapy Dogs from the start.
She has trained several dogs over the years but decided to work more behind the scenes supporting the charity with it's accounts. Along with Joanne, Christine and Tracy she is on our board of Trustees.
Amy has trained her dog, Ruby as a therapy dog which she takes to local care homes to support the elderly in our local community.