Desperately seeking puppy parents in Sydney

Mum of three, Jenny Curtis of Lilyfield gained a new addition to her family when she brought home 8 week old Amigo. Jenny is raising Amigo, the black Labrador puppy for Assistance Dogs Australia, for the next 10 months.

Jenny and her family are Puppy Educators and have the very important volunteer role of playing with, cuddling and caring for Amigo the super-pup. They are looking after him as if he was their own, taking him out and about to the local shops, parks and on public transport. By introducing him to as many new sights, sounds and people as they can, they are ensuring Amigo grows up to be a well-trained Assistance Dog.

'It's a rewarding thing to do, and a great experience for our kids.’ said Jenny.

‘Having a gorgeous four legged member of the family is terrific for our family. He's given us so much joy already.’ Jenny knew raising Amigo would be a great learning experience, especially for her three teenage daughters aged 15 and 16. ‘It's wonderful to see everyone is taking on different levels of responsibility with little Amigo, he has provided a different focus in the household and a great distraction from the general argy barge of family life.’

When Amigo reaches his first birthday, he will return to the Assistance Dogs Australia National Training School, where he will learn the advanced skills needed to graduate as an Assistance Dog. He may be matched with a child with autism, someone with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) or someone with a physical disability.

Jenny and her family remind themselves of Amigo’s future role, ‘We talk constantly about his role in someone else's life and that he'll have a very important job to do.’

‘Everyone I meet says "it'll be tough to give him up"  and some even say that they've been thinking of doing it for years, but couldn't bear giving a puppy up! I think that's a great shame, because if we could learn to deal with a bit of a broken heart for a while, then there would be more people in a position to have one of these wonderful dogs.’

With a new litter of puppies expected very soon, Assistance Dogs Australia is looking for more Puppy Educators like Jenny in Sydney. If you can raise a puppy in your home, with all food, vet costs and training provided, please visit www.assistancedogs.org.au  or call 1800 688 364 for more info.

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Assistance Dogs Australia: Founded in 1996, Assistance Dogs Australia is a national charity which trains Labradors and Golden Retrievers to help people with disabilities, providing them with greater freedom and independence. Dogs are placed free of charge, to a wide range of clients, including families with autism, post-traumatic stress sufferers and people living with disabilities. It costs in excess of $27,000 to train and place a dog, and Assistance Dogs Australia receives no government funding.