Volunteers: The cornerstone of Assistance Dogs Australia
We could not function as an organisation without our network of generous volunteers. From raising puppies to providing short term care for dogs in Advanced Training, their impact is immeasurable.
This National Volunteer Week, we’d like like to highlight the generosity of our volunteers. It’s an old adage that it takes a village to raise a child. At ADA, we believe it takes a community to raise a puppy. Our community members are such a vital part of the organisation that we would cease to function without them.
Thankfully, the opportunity to volunteer comes with rewards, and keeps our volunteers putting their hand up to raise another puppy each time they say goodbye to the last.
Lindsay has said that the most rewarding part of volunteering for ADA is having the company of the dog. “They’re always happy, no matter what. It stimulates the mind, it’s good for you and gets you out exercising.” Not only do dogs provide good company, but they work as a great tool for connection, too. “I go over to the local shopping centre with my dog and I meet new people. People want to ask about the dogs and it’s nice to share what’s going on with them.”
Volunteer Lindsay with a few of the four puppies he’s helped raise
Volunteers, Julie, and her daughter, Kate, would agree. “What’s not to love about building a relationship with a puppy where you can see the visible results of your time and energy reflected in a well-behaved and well-socialised dog? One of the highlights has been the incredible friendships that we have made.”
Mother-daughter duo Julie and Kate have been volunteering for ADA since 2020
A common experience for all of our volunteers is the pain of having to say goodbye to their puppies as they move to the next stage of their education in Advanced Training. Julie says, “One of the hardest parts is when they leave you at the end of their home-based training. But there’s always been a brand new pup ready to join our family, which makes goodbyes easier as you fall in love with a new dog!
For Lindsay, it’s the same. “Each time I give a dog back I have a tear in my eye, but I like to look at the positives,” says Lindsay. “When one dog goes, you can get another. It’s important to look at the possibilities of what they’re going to mean to someone who needs their support and assistance. That’s the way I look at it.”
The selfless work and time our volunteers invest in raising Assistance Dog puppies to enhance the lives of people with disabilities is inspiring and immeasurable.
Thank you to all of our volunteers, and happy National Volunteer Week.
If you or someone you know are interested in exploring the many volunteering options we have here at Assistance Dogs Australia, follow this link to find out more.