THEY say a dog is a man’s best friend, but black lab Mungo is a lifesaver, according to his owner Barbara Houston.

For when she became wheelchair bound eight years ago, Barbara, who suffers with Transverse Myelitis, a neurological disorder, says it had a devastating effect in more ways than she could have ever imagined.

“It changed my outlook on life,” she said. “I had always been fiercely independent, but I suddenly became totally dependent on others for many needs.

“Although I had spells of improvement, each stage of remission was followed by a relapse, when I never got back to where I had been before.”

Barbara, who lives with her husband and carer Barrie in Christchurch, gave up hope of improvement and suffered bouts of depression.

“People who I had thought were friends now ignored me,” she said. “When I was out, again I was ignored. If my husband was with me, he would get spoken to, but I was apparently invisible.

“When in the supermarket, people would walk into me and accuse me of bumping into them. I came to feel that it was not worth the effort. I would find excuses to remain at home, feeling sorry for myself.”

Barbara says she became a bit of a recluse.

“My husband was reluctant to leave me on my own, fearing accidents, such as my leaning out of my wheelchair to pick something up off the floor and toppling out.

“I would not go out in the car on my own either.

“I only went out when I had to, when either Barrie or someone else was with me.”

But her life was transformed when Mungo came into her life in December, 2010.

“He is a wonderful and loyal companion,” she said. “He does not judge me.

“He is of tremendous help, and has learned to do so much.

“He immediately picks up anything I drop, he empties the washing machine, he opens and closes doors, and fetches the phone.

“Barrie is now able to go out and leave me without worrying, knowing that Mungo will keep me safe. Mungo is able to undress me, so I no longer need Barrie to do this for me – another step towards independence.

“Once Mungo has learned to get my legs into bed, I will not need human help for that either.

“I am also going out every day as Mungo needs his exercise. I feel alive when I am out walking and playing with him.

“We also meet such lovely people – other dog owners are so friendly. Even the wheelchair is no longer a barrier.

“People now stop to speak to me wherever we are; usually conversation begins with questions about Mungo. The supermarket shopping experience is now enjoyable. Although people did not notice the wheelchair before they walked into me, they certainly notice the dog.

“And Mungo is very clever. He is a quick learner. He keeps my brain active thinking about the next task to teach him – what I need next and how we can achieve it together.

“He is also a bit of a comedian, and keeps my spirits high. To me, he is a dog in a million, and I wouldn’t be without him.”