The Marie and Pippy Story
Pippy is one in one hundred at Assistance Dogs Australia having been placed with Marie Woessner, a recipient who lives with dementia.
While Assistance Dogs are trained to give freedom and independence to people with physical disabilities by performing physical tasks, this case was a very special one, as Pippy and Marie are perfect for each other.
Pippy’s family will tell you that she’s got a heart to match her coat of gold.
“I know only one thing for sure, having Pippy as a companion dog has made such a different to Marie’s and our lifeâ€, said Gerhard, Marie’s husband. “… Pippy will always be taken care of as one of the family. She will be overwhelmingly loved and respected as a family member.â€
Sadly Marie recently had a nasty fall, since which her situation has worsened. Yet even when she can’t be reached by the rest of the family, Pippy is always there for her, giving her a paw to hold and is the constant with whom Marie can connect.
Marie always remembers to spoil Pippy, giving her lots of hugs or giving her tummy a good rub. She also gets Pippy to practice her commands and while sometimes Marie doesn’t remember the exact words, Pippy makes up what she thinks she is meant to do, making Marie very proud.
Assistance Dogs Australia trains Labradors and Golden Retrievers to perform tasks that people with physical disabilities find difficult if not impossible to achieve. Tasks such as picking up dropped items, pressing the button at the traffic lights, paying the cashier at the shops, answering the telephone, opening and closing doors or getting bottles of water out of the fridge.
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