The Kath & Vespa Story

Kath Keat, from Victoria, will tell you she’s wanted a dog for thirty five years, but she could not have imagined a pooch as wonderful as her new Assistance Dog, Vespa.

While Vespa is a companion dog, she still helps Kath to do things that those confined to a wheelchair find difficult such as picking up dropped objects and turning on the lights.

“It’s absolutely great having her,” Kath says. “I’ve got somebody to look after who also looks after me. I’ve got a little friend who’s with me all the time.”

In just one month, Kath says that Vespa has given her the large boost in confidence that she really needed.

“I used to be, I would say depressed,” Kath said. “But since Vespa came I am a lot happier in myself”.

Kath and Vespa have been getting out in the community a lot, whether they go to their local church group or get creative at Sandy Beach Centre art classes, learning to paint and draw.

“I think everyone in the art class is enjoying having her there. She is so well behaved and just sits at my feet,” Kath said.

Vespa has provided Kath with a new sense of independence and security as she knows someone is always looking out for her.

“It’s so fantastic she’s here,” Kath said. “I really love her. It’s beautiful.”

Vespa is part of a program initiated by Assistance Dogs Australia, a non profit organisation which trains Labradors and Golden Retrievers to enhance the quality of life for people with physical disabilities, giving them freedom and independence.

The Paul and Trueman Story

Over the past year, Paul Wiltshire’s and his family have warmly welcomed a new family member into their hearts. Paul’s new assistance dog, Trueman.

“I like having him around a lot. A real lot,” says Paul. “My wife and kids love him. He’s just part of the family and I think he’s gotten me out of trouble at least once a day since he’s been with me.”

Trueman provides Paul with a new kind of independence, helping him with everyday tasks that people in a wheelchair may have difficulty achieving. He can open doors for Paul, pick up any objects dropped on the floor and even pay the cashier at the supermarket.

But that’s not all he does. Since Paul and Trueman’s relationship began they have been busy guys, going to the cinemas, shopping and even visited Santa with Paul’s children last Christmas. They also commute by train to the radio station where Paul works three days a week, a journey which Paul says he now enjoys.

“He’s [Trueman] a lot of fun to be around and he makes things like riding on the boring train a lot more enjoyable so it makes the trip a lot quicker. He helps me out at work too especially when I drop things. I now don’t have to wait for a human to pick it up ‘cause Trueman is there.”

But aside from the freedom and security Trueman provides Paul, he also makes most outings a social occasion, with many passers by stopping to speak to Paul about his gorgeous companion.

‘“He’s Beautiful’ that’s what everyone says. Heaps of people come up to us. I wish I had had him when I was a single man!” Paul said.

Trueman is part of a program initiated by Assistance Dogs Australia, a non profit organisation which trains Labradors and Golden Retrievers to enhance the quality of life for people with physical disabilities, giving them freedom and independence.

New YouTube video

Check our our latest video. This is the news coverage for the launch of our Reading Labs program. See one of our recipients, Karen and her service dog Gypsy talk about the program and what it means to them as well as the kids in the pilot program.

Click here

Vote for Assistance Dogs Australia in the Mashable Awards - vote for us for the Best Non-Profit use of social media. You can vote using your facebook or twitter account. Help us get as many nominations as we can......

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Dr Chris Brown wins $250,000

While the Bondi Vet, Dr Chris Brown may not be smarter than a fifth grader, he came very close, winning $250,000 for the pups at Assistance Dogs Australia in Rove’s Channel Ten show Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader? last Monday night.

This is the largest one off donation Assistance Dogs Australia has ever received, so as you can probably imagine the pups are thrilled!

A big thank you to Dr Chris and all his studious 5th grade helpers, Dylan, Liam, Lily, Maddie and Oliver and a big hand of appaws for his cute and cuddly puppy helper.

As an Assistance Dogs Australia puppy in training, the puppy featured on the show will eventually undertake tasks that are difficult if not impossible for people with physical disabilities to undertake – tasks such as opening and closing doors, answering the telephone, retrieving dropped objects and even getting bottles of water from the fridge.

With the money Dr Chris won, Assistance Dogs Australia will be able to train 10 more puppies, so they will eventually be able to give freedom and independence to people with physical disabilities.

New Video from Assistance Dogs Australia

Check out the new video from Assistance Dogs Australia.
This is a great one - not one to miss!
Click here to watch!

Pudding cooks up a storm on Ready Steady Cook

The pups at Assistance Dogs Australia have been cooking up a storm – preparing for their special guest appearance on Channel Ten’s afternoon Cooking show Ready, Steady, Cook.

Top Dog at Assistance Dogs Australia, CEO Richard Lord, along with Chef Shane Delia will take on Dr Jenny McMenamin from Westmead Hospital and Chef Matt Golinski in the cook off on Tuesday 6th Dogtober at 2pm.

But Richard and Shane have a secret recipe for success - their kitchen hand Puddin’, a beautiful chocolate Labrador (pictured).

Don’t let her good looks fool you, Puddin’ is much more than a pretty face. As an Assistance Dogs Australia puppy in training Puddin’ can do anything and will eventually give freedom and independence to someone with a physical disability. It seems the boys are in good paws.

But with Bondi Vet and Assistance Dogs Australia’s ambassador Dr Chris Brown in the audience, will Puddin’ withstand the pressure and Puddin’ a perfect performance? Fingers and paws crossed.

Puddin’ will eventually undertake tasks that are difficult if not impossible for people with physical disabilities to undertake – tasks such as opening and closing doors, answering the telephone, retrieving dropped objects and even getting bottles of water from the fridge.

The Reading Labs Launch

Move over book worms and make way for Assistance Dogs Australia’s ‘Reading Labs’, the well trained helpers reeling in reluctant readers - book, line and sinker.

Assistance Dogs Australia’s ‘Reading Labs’ program will be launched by Andy Griffiths, one of Australia's most successful authors and ‘Reading Labs’ Ambassador today, 6th Dogtober, as part of our fundraising and awareness month.

‘Reading Labs’ is an innovative educational program where Assistance Dogs in the community visit schools with their recipients, helping students with reading difficulties. And while they may look like your average dogs, don’t judge a book by its cover – these pups can achieve anything!

"The idea of the program is that the children read to the dogs, who not only make reading more fun, but who provide a non judgemental audience,” Assistance Dogs Australia’s Top Dog, CEO Richard Lord said. “The dogs involved will not only have changed the life of someone with a physical disability but will now enhance the abilities of children in the classroom.”

The recipient’s involved in the program are just as important as their dogs, helping the children with unfamiliar words and also enhancing the child’s comprehension skills by getting them to explain what is happening in the story to the dog.

It seems the kids involved with the Reading Labs are in good paws.

Assistance Dogs Australia is a non profit organisation that trains Labradors and Golden Retrievers to give freedom and independence to people with physical disabilities.

For more information on Dogtober click here to visit the Dogtober website

Welcome to Dogtober!

Today is the first day of Dogtober - Assistance Dogs Australia's new awareness month.

As a loyal supporter of Assistance Dogs Australia we would love to have you involved this Dogtober. Visit the Dogtober website at www.dogtober.org.au to find out more about what you can do this month.

Please let your friends know that you support Assistance Dogs Australia and Dogtober by sharing this cause and the Dogtober website on your facebook page. Why not also change your profile picture to the Dogtober logo - it is available for download on the website.

You can also download online so you can share it will all your social networking friends and make raising funds easier and fun!

Thanks for your support and helping us making Dogtober a success so we can help more people.

Govenor General to Launch Dogtober

On the 1st of Dogtober, Her Excellency the Governor General of Australia, Ms Quentin Bryce AC will lend a paw to the pups at Assistance Dogs Australia, launching their first ever fundraising and awareness month on the grounds of Admiralty House in Sydney.

Dogtober is a new annual event which will take place in October. It’s a fun way to get involved and raise awareness for Assistance Dogs Australia, a non profit organisation that trains Labradors and Golden Retrievers to give freedom and independence to people with physical disabilities.

As patron of Assistance Dogs Australia, Ms Bryce said, "The whole idea of assistance dogs and the remarkable work they do every day to assist people with disabilities, people with special needs, it's such an inspiring story."

In attendance will be Ms Bryce’s namesakes, puppies in training Quentin and Bryce along with the newest member of the pups in training team, cute and cuddly Connell.

This Dogtober, people are encouraged to wear a collar and raise a dollar for the pups at Assistance Dogs Australia and hold their very own Dogtober event such as Howl-a-ween, a dog paddle, a flea market or any other dog inspired activity.

All money raised will go toward training more super puppies like Quentin and Bryce so that they will be able to perform tasks which are difficult if not impossible for people with physical disabilities to achieve – tasks such as opening and closing doors, retrieving all manner of objects such as keys and mobile phones, pressing the button at the traffic lights, paying the cashier at the shops and even getting bottles of water out of the fridge.

For more info on dogtober click here

If you want to find more about what we do visit our website at www.assistancedogs.org.au
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