Assistance Dogs Australia
Assistance Dogs Australia (ADA) is a non-profit organisation that trains Labradors and Golden Retrievers to help enhance the quality of life for people with physical disabilities and improve their level of independence. As a result of the ADA program, these highly trained intelligent dogs give recipients greater mobility, confidence and higher self-esteem.
I have been an ambassador for Assistance Dogs Australia since its inception in 1996 and it’s been wonderful to watch it grow from offering just a couple of dogs to the organisation it is today. So far more than 60 dogs have been placed around Australia, bringing much joy to people’s lives. It is amazing to watch these dogs at work. They not only provide invaluable companionship but also do tasks like carry shopping, remote controls or mobile phones. They are taught to open doors and assist with crossing the road - things that we often take for granted.
Each dog takes a full two years to train at a cost of $20,000 each. There are currently over 40 dogs in training and ADA with more litters on the way.
Puppies are trained through the assistance of volunteer puppy raisers or through innovative programs such as the Sutherland Helping Paws Work for the Dole program and Pups in Prison - a training program in the Kirkconnell Correctional facility at Bathurst.
You could help by sponsoring a puppy for as little as $1.00 a day, or if you live in Sydney, Melbourne or Brisbane, you could even offer your services as a volunteer puppy raiser.
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