An assistance dog has changed the life of 10-year-old Milly, who suffers from a rare congenital disorder
Milly Allen was just one-year-old when she was diagnosed with Glycosylation type la, a rare congenital disorder affecting just over 800 people worldwide.
Now 10 years old, she has weak muscle tone and loose joints, is unable to fully control her body or walk independently and has difficulties with speech.
Milly’s mother Katie first met an assistance dog with its owner in a local supermarket, which inspired her to contact Dogs For the Disabled. In 2013, Onyx arrived and Milly’s life changed forever.
Milly's physical difficulties meant that she struggled in mainstream school. She now attends a special school, where she has access to speech and physiotherapy. Her experience there has been positive, but nothing has had such an amazing impact as the arrival of Onyx.
“Onyx is my special friend and helper, she’s always there for me,” says Milly. “She meets me off the bus from school and I’m never lonely any more. When I’m out with Onyx everyone wants to talk to me and find out more about what she does for me.”
Onyx is constantly at Milly's side, even sleeping next to her bed. She picks up anything Milly drops, responds to pointing by fetching shoes or clothes, and helps her take off her socks, jacket and gloves.
As Milly grows older she will spend more time in her wheelchair and Onyx’s ability to open doors and drawers and press access buttons means that Milly will gain increasing independence as she becomes an adult.
Katie says: “Onyx is an affectionate softie and, off duty, has her silly moments. She loves playing with Alfie (Milly’s six-year-old brother) in the garden. She absolutely loves the beach, swimming and paddling and her favourite game is pretending to lose her ball and then finding it.”
Image courtesy of Dogs for the Disabled.
The BSAVA has opened submissions for the BSAVA Clinical Research Abstracts 2026.
