The Holly and Masey Story

Holly Menzies received an early birthday gift last year; Masey, a beautiful Companion Dog, with a heart to match her coat of gold.

14 year old Holly has cerebellar and vermian hypoplasia which affects her physical and mental development but Masey is helping Holly to develop her gross and fine motor skills. Just by patting and playing with Masey, Holly can practise her skills and develop her confidence.

But more importantly, Masey provides Holly with companionship and love, offering a paw to hold when times are rough. “She’s the best dog ever. She’s my best friend.”, Holly said.

Masey assists Holly at home and when out and about by picking things up, opening and closing doors and bracing for Holly so she can stand up if she falls. Masey can also alert bark if Holly gets into trouble to attract attention.

“This year for me has been quite a trial and I was worried that Holly may be adversely affected by all the ups and downs but she has just sailed through beautifully and one of her stable constants was her beautiful dog Masey”, Holly’s mum Janet said. “They swim in a friend’s pool together, they ride the bike with her brother and go to the park. Masey jumps on the trampoline with her and watches many DVDs with her.”

Holly and Masey go to dog training classes every Wednesday where they make lots of new friends both two legged and four legged! The pawfect team even won an encouragement award for their work at training. They even dressed in matching Christmas costumes for the occasion.

The Jordan and Wanda Story

Assistance Dogs Australia’s beautiful and quirky black Labrador, Wanda, was welcomed into Jordan Roger’s home, only last Christmas but she’s already made pawprints on the family’s hearts forever.

Wanda lends three year old Jordan a helping paw and has already begun to change her life, giving her the freedom to lead a more independent life. Wanda is there to pick up toys Jordan has dropped, she is there to open doors and she is there as Jordan’s best friend, providing companionship and love. She makes Jordan smile with just a wag of her tail.

“Wanda has been fantastic. She gives Jordan more independence because when she’s playing or drops things, Wanda is there to help her,” Natalie, Jordan’s mum said. “Having a dog is just so exciting and fun for the whole family and Wanda makes life so much better,” she said. “Wanda has settled in beautifully to our family and has made that inseparable bond with Jordan that is forever. One of our favourite things about Wanda, is that she is always there to make Jordan smile even when Jordan has hurt herself, Wanda went and retrieved her favourite doll and brought it back to her, placing it in her lap. Wanda did that herself (no command) knowing it would cheer her up. Moments like these are Priceless…” she said.

For the Assistance Dogs team living in Albany Western Australia, the mind doggling pawsabilities are endless. As a Companion Dog, Wanda is trained to provide Jordan with physical and emotional therapy, allowing her to achieve age appropriate independence as she moves through life.

The Matthew and Bronte Story

Assistance Dogs Australia’s Service Dog Bronte has helped Matt of Adelaide reach a new chapter in his life, one filled with freedom and independence.

Bronte helps Matt with everyday tasks that he finds difficult to achieve. She can pick up all sorts of items like his mobile phone, the remote control and his keys, she can open and close doors and can alert bark if Matt is ever in trouble or falls out of his wheelchair.

“Bronte is my number one companion. She knows my routine and is always there to greet me when I wake up. I’m on my own a lot during the day, but she is there to help me,” Matt said.

In fact Bronte helped Matt a lot when he ran his own IT business, picking up computer parts and cables for him and providing much needed friendship even when times were tough.

“Bronte always makes me smile. She’s a big puppy, she’s always happy and wagging her tail. So much so that sometimes she clears the table with one swipe [of her tail]. Thankfully she helps me clean up!” Matt said.

The Tim and Roxy Story

The name on Tim McCallum’s lips, is definitely, Roxy – the name of his Assistance Dog and best friend.

Roxy helps Tim with everyday tasks that he can find difficult if not impossible to achieve, such as picking up all sorts of dropped items, like his mobile phone or his keys, she opens and closes doors, presses the button at the traffic lights and is trained to alert bark if Tim needs help or falls out of his wheelchair.

“I never realised how important my independence was until I lost it after my accident. Assistance Dogs Australia has given it back through a beautiful Labrador named Roxy,” Tim said.

In 1999, Tim was chosen as one of eighteen talented performers to attend Australia’s leading performing arts university, the Western Australia Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA), where actors like Hugh Jackman and Heath Ledger studied. However, just days before he was set to begin his course at WAAPA a swimming accident at a local Perth beach left him a quadriplegic.

Since his accident, Tim’s resilient character and spirit have touched the hearts of many. He rehabilitated and returned to the stage to continue with his dream of a performing career and is now set to audition for a role in Cirque du Soleil. His biggest fan is Roxy, who often appears with him on stage.

“Roxy is the 50/50 dog. 50% of what she does is the physical tasks sheÔÇÖs been trained to help me with. The other 50% is the companionship. She’s a complete wonder dog,” Tim said. “Roxy is my best friend and I know that I could not achieve the things I want to in life without her help and companionship.”

Roxy was raised as part of Assistance Dogs Australia’s Pups in Prison Program, in Kirkconnell Correctional Centre near Bathurst and is Tim’s second Assistance Dog. Buster, Tim’s first Service Dog is now retired and living out his golden years with Tim’s parents.

“Assistance Dogs Australia have provided me with the most invaluable life tool I could possibly need. They don’t ask for anything in return. They will never know how grateful I am for the gift they have given me,” Tim said.

The Amanda and Tiggy Story

Assistance Dogs Australia’s Service Dog Tiggy and his recipient Amanda McKenzie from Wagga Wagga definitely got off on the right paw.

“I like to call Tiggy my time and energy saver, because simple everyday tasks that I find difficult or impossible to achieve he can do for me in 5 seconds flat! Tiggy retrieves dropped items from the floor which means I no longer have to disturb other staff members. He loves to get my documents off the photocopier.”

The Susan and Ziggy Story

He [Ziggy] is one great dog and the true light of my life.

I remember that this time last year I was eagerly awaiting Ziggy’s arrival ÔÇô I was given the news by one of your lovely people at Assistance Dogs Australia on Christmas Eve, so I have had my beautiful boy for one year. He is a really big help to me – he specialises in picking up credit cards & wallets (even out of gutters of running water) also picking up my books at the library when I drop them all over the floor, a frequent occurrence. He has been known pick up someone else’s wallet off his own bat and to sit there innocently with the wallet in his mouth ÔÇô maybe he could make me a bit of money on the side

The Finn and Laura Story

Laura walked into Finn Riley’s world and heart as companion dog late last year and she is already changing his world.

Alison, Finn’s mum, said that the family was very excited that Laura was joining them. ‘Laura has fallen right into our family,’ said Alison. ‘Finn loves Laura. They have already settled into a routine and are inseparable.’

The Nathan and Ruby Story

She helps him get dressed, she takes him to school, she opens and closes doors, but probably the most wonderful thing that Ruby, Nathan Ford’s Companion Dog provides him with is independence.

“Before Ruby came along, Nathan had little independence,” Gavin, Nathan’s dad said. “If he wanted to play in his room, little things like opening doors and picking up toys would have to be done for him. One of us would have had to be with him all the time. But then Ruby arrived.”

Ruby follows Nathan everywhere and helps him to pick up dropped objects, she takes off his socks, she can switch the lights on and off and she even opens the door so Nathan can play fetch with her in the backyard.

“Ruby has made Nathan a lot more outdoorsy because he can go out in the backyard by himself. She also takes him to and from school everyday and all the kids come up and greet them. They love her.” Gavin said.

If the family hear Ruby bark it means Nathan needs something that she can’t do, but that doesn’t happen very often. She has also alerted Nathan’s family when Nathan has been in trouble.

“We feel safe knowing Ruby is with Nathan all the time and that she’s so devoted to him,” Gavin said.
Ruby is always there for Nathan making him smile with just a wag of her tail and her unconditional love and support are the best things she provides.
“She’s my best friend.” said Nathan. “She helps me and makes my family and me laugh.”