Perth Graduation
They say every dog has its day and for four Assistance Dogs Australia pups their day arrived on Friday 16th April at their inaugural graduation ceremony, celebrated in
The ceremony was hosted by Assistance Dogs Australia’s Ambassadors The Bondi Vet, Dr Chris Brown and current Olympic Sailing Gold Medallist, Elise Rechichi OAM, while singer and Ambassador Tim McCallum, along with his Service Dog, Roxy provided the entertainment.
Four Assistance Dogs Australia teams graduated at the ceremony including Peter Darch and his Service Dog Phoebe from Mandura, Craig Dodge and his Service Dog Yeltsin from Tapping, Barry Clark and his Companion Dog Java from Lesmurdie and three year old Jordan Rogers and her Companion Dog, Wanda from
“Wanda has been fantastic,” Natalie Wilson, Jordan’s mum said. “She gives
The graduation ceremony signified the hand over of the dogs to their recipients and officially celebrated their journey from a pup in training to a fully fledged Assistance Dog. It was clear that each Assistance Dog had already made paw prints on the hearts of their recipients forever.
“Java has changed my life,” said Barry Clarke of his Companion Dog, Java. “With having Parkinson’s I need to keep moving and he gets me motivated to go for walks and things. He just brightens up my day.”
These dogs open the door to a more independent life for their recipients, lending a helping paw. They are there to pick up dropped items, they are there to open and close doors and they are there as a best friend. They are also trained to alert bark if their recipient is in trouble or falls out of their wheelchair and help their recipients to get out more.
“I had a fall in the library bathroom and he was very helpful making sure I had the phone and giving me his attention,” Craig Dodge said of his Service Dog, Yeltsin “He was very worried and stayed with me the whole time”.
Peter Darch said of his Service Dog Phoebe, “I do a lot more since she’s [Phoebe’s] been around. She loves the warm weather and going on long walks… We’ve been camping which she loved! She also helps me around the house a lot. Especially opening and closing doors which is great as it’s stopped my old man winging about the flies… Phoebe gives my wallet to the bus driver which makes things easier, so now it’s a lot easier to go places and cruise down to my mates’ places.”
The Hon Simon O’Brien MLC Minister for Disabilities and Transport also officially welcomed Assistance Dogs Australia and the pups to WA at the event, while Assistance Dogs Australia’s newest puppy recruits, Alfie and Maddy sponsored by the Make a Difference Foundation and Pedro sponsored by HBF were also in attendance.
