Lucy Coyne, Senior Technical Policy Manager, shares her experience visiting Dogs for Good with the NOAH Team
25th February 2026
Paws for a Cause: A Visit to Dogs for Good
Yesterday I had the privilege of visiting Dogs for Good with the NOAH team, a charity based in Banbury, Oxfordshire, that is transforming lives through the power of the human-dog connection.
From the moment we arrived it was clear this was more than just a training centre, it was a place built on the human-dog partnership. The charity raises dogs that are not just well-trained companions but that change lives through physical and mental support. Dogs for Good works with individuals with physical disabilities, autistic people, families and community groups, matching and training dogs to help increase independence, confidence and mental wellbeing. Seeing this in action was genuinely awe-inspiring.
The dogs themselves are nothing short of amazing. Watching a training session, you could how responsive they are to their handlers reacting to the smallest signals and carrying out tasks with impressive accuracy. But what stood out most was what a fantastic time these dogs were having. The dogs are not just trained to carry out tasks, they are raised by the charity in a world where everything is part of a very exciting and rewarding game. This is a game where everybody is a winner (dogs and humans).
So, Team Dog or Team Cat?
Of course, no visit like this would be complete without reigniting the recurring NOAH debate: are you Team Dog or Team Cat?
Team Cat supporters (including me) will (rightly) argue that cats may be independent but are masters of quiet companionship. There is something special about earning a
cat’s affection, a proven endorphin spike from their gentle purr and something therapeutic about the achievement of a cat choosing to sit on your knee.
But after spending time at Dogs for Good, I have to admit to being open to the arguments of Team Dog. The energy and enthusiasm for these dogs and their ability to promote independence and wellbeing in their matched humans was impossible to ignore.
So, for me it is not about choosing sides. It is about seeing the benefits of the companionship offered by dogs and cats and perhaps admitting that my cat’s high five for a high value treat is possibly not as impressive as what these dogs can achieve.