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Announcement posted by Assistance Dogs Australia 25 Sep 2014

Lend a helping paw for Dogtober

Assistance Dogs Australia’s super puppies will be dog-napping the month of October for their fundraising and awareness month – named Dogtober of course!

 

Dogtober is a way for people to celebrate all dogs and take fundraising into their own paws, organising doggy themed events or undertaking a feat for sponsorship to raise awareness and much needed funds for Assistance Dogs Australia.

 

And just dogs come in all shapes and sizes, so too can your fundraising events, from Howl-o-ween parties to dog-stackle courses, dogs bowling to flea markets, doggie paddle challenges to dogs breakfast events - the ideas are endless.

By participating in Dogtober you can help those like Assistance Dogs Australia’s Ambassador, Tim McCallum, who was left a quadriplegic after a tragic swimming accident.

“I never realised how important my independence was until I lost it after my accident. Assistance Dogs Australia has given it back through a beautiful Labrador named Roxy,” Tim said.

“Roxy is the 50/50 dog. 50% of what she does is the physical tasks she’s been trained to help me with. The other 50% is the companionship. She’s a complete wonder dog. Roxy is my best friend and I know that I could not achieve the things I want to in life without her help and companionship,” he said.

Assistance Dogs Australia is a non-profit organisation that trains Labradors and Golden Retrievers to help people with physical disabilities. After two years and $27,000 these dogs can perform everyday tasks for their recipients that they may find difficult if not impossible to achieve.

This Dogtober, Assistance Dogs Australia is aiming to raise enough money to train 25 more Assistance Dogs like Roxy to change the lives of Australians with physical disabilities. 

As each dog is worth an investment of over $27,000 and is placed with recipients free of charge, Assistance Dogs Australia really needs your help in Dogtober so we can make a difference for people like Tim.

“Assistance Dogs Australia have provided me with the most invaluable life tool I could possibly need,” Tim said. “They don’t ask for anything in return. They will never know how grateful I am for the gift they have given me.”

If you would like to get involved this Dogtober and help the paw, contact Assistance Dogs Australia on 1800 688 364 or send an email to info@assistancedogs.org.au.

For media enquiries contact Amanda Hope ahope@assistancedogs.org.au or 0401 508 407.