Ricky and Lisa Moate, who suffer Crohn's Disease and a variety of related health problems, say they would be unable to cope without 11-month-old Jo-Jo.

They have trained it since she was eight weeks old, and she can perform a range of task to help them with their day-to-day lives.

She picks up 26-year-old Lisa's crutches from the floor when she drops them, and helps her back onto her feet whenever she falls.

She can open and close doors, is trained to find Lisa's bag, can carry the telephone, and knows where pens and house keys are kept.


Today Ricky and Lisa, of Errington Close, Arbourthorne, said it is unfair to brand all Rottweilers "killers". They spoke out in the wake of a number of dog attacks involving the breed. South Anston girl Chloe Grayson, nine, was mauled on New Year's Eve, three days after a one-year-old Wakefield boy was killed. Chloe's mum Nicola wants changes to be made to the Dangerous Dogs Act, banning them from being kept as pets.

Our story about the attack on Chloe Grayson brought an unprecedented response from readers. Click here to read our report which generated more than 130 comments.

Calls for that dog to be destroyed also brought a big response. Click here to joun the debate.

But Ricky said he has nothing but praise for Jo-Jo - and said any breed can attack.

"Any dog can 'turn' if it is placed in a particular situation where it feels threatened, whatever its breed," said Ricky.

"The fact that Rottweilers are used as police dogs proves they have discipline, and we have proved our dog's ability - she is a real help to us."

Ricky and Lisa want Jo-Jo to be classified officially as an assistance dog, so she can be taken into the same public places as guide dogs.

But they say the breed will not be considered by the Support Dogs organisation.

"My wife rang up to enquire and was told it is not the organisation's protocol to train and classify Rottweilers," he said.

A spokeswoman for Support Dogs, on Brightside Lane, Sheffield, said they no longer train 'guarding breeds' as assistance dogs because of previous problems with the animals becoming too protective of their owners and predatory over territory.

"We have trained guarding breeds in the past but we have found that, because they have been bred over the years to guard, it is their instinct to protect," she said. "That has, on occasions, hindered partnerships."

She added: "We want to break down barriers for people with disabilities but if they have a dog people are fearful of it can hinder their social intercourse."

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