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Eacham Times July 2006 - Vizslas
Written by asdogs Monday, 20 November 2006 16:08
This month I have been trying to catch up with the three Hungarian Vizsla ASDOGS who are placed with recipients. The Golden dogs from Malanda are all doing really well and are helping their recipients in so many ways.Zac, in Townsville, is so sensitive to Michelle’s needs that he senses when she is going to need oxygen and a few moments before she has trouble breathing he takes her arm and leads her to the bedroom. Once there she can lie on the bed and switch on her oxygen supply. I have seen Zac taking Michelle’s arm when she is standing and lead her to the wheel chair. How do these dogs know?
Dan is leading a happy life on a property near Kenilworth. His recipient, William, is now eight years old. Last time I saw William he was having trouble stringing words into a sentence or else was repeating himself over and over again. William was having eighty to one hundred epileptic fits a day in January 2005 when I introduced him to Dan, since he has had the dog he has not had one epileptic fit.
I phoned his mother recently and a voice said “William speaking” I was so amazed that for once I was lost for words. He is now speaking well and coping reasonably well with school.
Leo has recently flown to Brisbane with his recipient and was in hospital with her for four days. He was really spoilt and was a great comfort to Jo when she was in pain. He has learned to lift Jo’s feet onto the footrest of the wheelchair by pulling on her slippers. He is also going to Dog Obedience classes and is up to competition standard so we hope he will be the first dog to compete with a person in a wheelchair.
I visited the Epilepsy Association’s camp at Mungali Falls last week and the children had a great time helping me train Nessie Dobermann, I am not sure who enjoyed it most, Nessie or the kids !
For further information please phone Faye – 40 921816 or Ann – 40 965118.
Ann Moens
Millstream Times June 2006 - Bettina
Written by asdogs Monday, 20 November 2006 15:51
Bettina first met Jet in 2002 and since then they have become a great team. Bettina used to depend on her father to help her but was determined to live as independently as possible. With Jet she can maintain the busy work and social life that she enjoys and Jet goes everywhere with her to pick up dropped articles, give her confidence when she has a problem and to give her love when she is in pain.
He can press the lift button and adjust Bettina when she is uncomfortable, when he is there Bettina feels safer if she goes out at night.
Having Jet relieves her father who is her carer as he knows Jet will look after Bettina.
Ann Moens
Eacham Times June 2006 - Townsville Trip
Written by asdogs Monday, 20 November 2006 15:49
Two of our Committee members recently made the trip to Townsville to visit the recipients and their dogs.It was very interesting to see how the dogs had settled in their new homes and to meet up with some of the dogs we had not seen for a while. Three dogs were accredited and all passed with flying colours.
The accreditation test is set by Assistance Dogs International and dogs have to gain an eighty five percent pass rate.
They have to unload quietly out of a vehicle, ignore a passing dog and enter a shopping centre. When walking through the crowds they have to be patted by children, stepped over by an unknown person, refuse food which is on the ground in front of them, go off lead and do a recall. It is a comprehensive test which takes about an hour to complete, also included is entering a restaurant and sitting quietly under the table while the humans have coffee.
A new recipient is a lovely twelve year old who lives on Magnetic Island; she has Solomon, a large golden Labrador to take care of her, as the dog weighs more than the girl Solomon wears a halti which is a useful device to prevent a strong dog pulling. Solomon is bonding well with Ula and hopefully will alert her when she is about to have an epileptic fit.
When I was in Rockhampton on holiday last week I called in to see Leo, the golden dog from Malanda. It was a joyful reunion as he has always been my favourite. He was just about to fly to Brisbane with his recipient and will spend four days in hospital with her, she will have a carer with her so he will get plenty of T.L.C and no doubt will get spoilt by the nursing staff.
Ann Moens
Eacham Times April 2006 - Cyclone
Written by asdogs Monday, 20 November 2006 15:48
The winner of our fuel raffle was Orange Ticket E 19. Tim Fitzgerald of Atherton. Many thanks to those who helped us by buying tickets.As we keep working clearing up the chaos from Cyclone Larry the dogs sleep on their beds, occasionally raising their heads to supervise us before dropping back to sleep again. I wish I was a dog but I'm sure if I come back as a dog in my next life it will be as some starving mongrel chained up without water, just my luck.
The dogs were undisturbed by the howling wind and crashing power poles, they were more upset that they didn't get my undivided attention and worse still their daily run, we tried that one day and they came back with sore paws from the bunya pine branches so they were in the yard till I had time to clean up.
We are getting organised for our big event of the year, Paws in the Park on July 16. Unfortunately it has to be in Cairns on the Esplanade as it is in conjunction with Disabilities Week. There will be a walk, displays, goodies for sale, food and raffles so it should be a good morning out.
For further information please contact Ann on 40 965118
Ann Moens
Eacham Times February 2006 - Honeybee
Written by asdogs Monday, 20 November 2006 15:46
Life was never meant to be easy but surely it doesn’t need to be quite so difficult! Honeybee, a lovely golden coloured Chihuahua, has been a wonderful companion to Dylan who has Cerebral Palsy. She went to school in Mareeba every day with him. Before he had Honeybee, there were children who were afraid to speak to Dylan, but now, about every third child would greet them saying “Hello Dylan and Honeybee”Sadly Honey developed spinal problems and had to be put down. The family were devastated. Once more, a wonderful lady called Jan Wheatley, who breeds Chihuahuas, kindly donated a lovely dog for Dylan. Piper has now been trained to sit with Dylan on her mat at school and has slotted into family life as if she was always meant to be there and Dylan is happy once more.
Starsky , who was graded out of ASDOGS as he was too nervous, has found a new home on a dairy farm near Malanda and is the picture of health and happiness. Fluffy has found a new home in Atherton with a little girl who just loves her to death and Baron is now living in Cairns on acreage and when I saw him last week was settling in well. We hate to see these dogs leave ASDOGS but sometimes they are happier as pets and it is so important to us that the dogs are happy.
Georgie, one of the Hungarian Vizsla pups had an accident and at present his future is uncertain. After X-rays and treatment in Atherton and Cairns and consultations with specialists in Brisbane we hope he may improve.
Max, our original and best ASDOG has now retired to a life of snoozing in the sun. He was spending five days a week at the Multi Learning Centre at Mareeba High helping the children in so many ways. He has been replaced by a black Labrador, Bindi who is doing a great job.
Anyone interested helping us with this rewarding work please contact Ann Moens,
40 965118.
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