Mrs. M. Mullen

Mrs. L. Smith

 TOWNSVILLE COMMITTEEMrs. L. Basham 

Ms. N. McMillan

Mrs. H. Kaesehagen

Mr. B. Kaesehagen

BRISBANE

REPRESENTATIVE        Miss K. Bauer

ROCKHAMPTON

REPRESENTATIVE      Mrs. K. Woollett

VICTORIAN

REPRESENTATIVE      Ms. M. Juniper

Richard Holt – President

Marjory Adkins – Vice President

Helen Fuller – Secretary

Maxine Mullen – Treasurer

Mr. Rob Fuller – Assistant Treasurer

Trainers – Mrs. Marion Adil

Mrs. Gail Kruyssen

Assistant Trainer – Mrs. Pam Hall

Committee Members : Mrs. Helen Holt

Mr. Vince Mullen’

Townsville Representatives: Hiroko Kaesehagen

Ben Kaesehagen

Larraine Basham

Our Association has had to make a regrettable decision which is to restrict the allocation of assistance dogs to an area from Mackay north and west to Mt Isa in Qld.   We did  not decide on this action lightly but find it is necessary due to the logistics of distance.”

Max

Let us introduce you to Max, a yellow Labrador with extraordinary talents.  Max has several jobs at all of which he excels.  Firstly he is a PR dog for ASDOGS.      He goes on Community Education trips and demonstrates his skills that assist people with disabilities.  He takes shoes and socks off, he opens and closes doors, he turns light switches on and off  and he will put a card into an ATM and then collect the money    -      (no— he doesn’t punch in the numbers!) 

He plays to the audience and loves applause—His nickname is “HOLLYWOOD”.

Secondly, just so Max won’t have a chance to get bored, he spends two days per week in the Multi Learning Centre at Mareeba State High School and two days per week at the Mareeba State Primary School Student Support Services Department.

Max helps the children in all sorts of subtle ways.   He’s just a big, warm, cuddly, trusting, uncritical friend to all the children and the teachers are amazed at the positive results they are getting.  Every school should have a Max!  Just make sure you turn any electric doors off because it only took Max a day or two to work out exactly where to sit to make the door open, and then he could go and visit ALL the children at  School—not just the ones in the Multi Learning Centre.

Jason with Max

Turning 11 in Nov., 2005, Jason had an early birthday present in the form of Assistance Dog, Max, a chocolate brown Labrador, who had spent the previous two years in training to help people like Jason, with special needs.

 Born with Sturge- Weber Syndrome, a rare syndrome that affects h is brain, causing  seizures and mild paralysis to his left side, the Year 5 Heatley PrImary school student has been what his grandmother describes as a “real battler”.   He also  has glaucoma and has had a number of operations to help reduce damage to his sight.

 Jason is just so tickled to have  the dog especially when Max plays tugger and ball with him and his brother, Brandon.

When Max has his jacket on he knows he’s working and he has his own seatbelt, so he can go out in public with his master.

 He will pick up things for Jason, carry them for him and he can take Jason’s shoes and socks off for him.   Also, Max can help Jason to climb up and down stairs and by now Jason and Max would have developed a strong bond between them, so that Jason depends on Max to be his constant companion.

It was love at first sight when Jason and Max met – Max had no qualms in discarding his old family for his new one and there was an immediate bond between the two.    This looks like a lifelong team!!!!!

William and Dan

Dan came to join our household in January 2005. William has a severe form of epilepsy  which impacts him  both physically and mentally.

Dan, usually called “My Dam “ is William’s constant companion and   his right hand man as the family now have a dairy farm so most days Will can be seen on his quad bike with Dan running alongside getting the cows in.

He has also become, over the years, a family dog and is much loved by William’s younger sister, Sophia and the rest of the family but it is William who feeds him and takes responsibility for his wellbeing.

William is very proud of his dog and introduces him to visitors, even if he is sometimes muddy! Dan lives on the fat of the land and enjoys lots of milk so that his coat is always shiny. He is the focal point of William’s life and has brought about a special calming influence.

We are grateful to ASDOGS ((NQ) for their tremendous input into the training of Dan and their ongoing support.

Ivan, Shelly, Chelsea, William and Sophia W.

Taine and Dusty

“My Dog, My Hero!” is what I tell Dusty.    I am not an only child any more because Dusty is like having a brother.   He sleeps on my bed, helps me get dressed and encourages me to do things that might make me angry or frightened.  I tell him stories and my problems and he doesn’t judge me when I make mistakes.   I don’t like having Down Syndrome but Dusty makes me feel confident and valued.  Everywhere we go people smile and come to talk to us even if they are having a bad day.  I am so proud that we make others in our community happy.

I had to work very, very hard to get Dusty.   Mum said I could only get a dog when I was fully toilet trained for two years and I did it!   I have had to learn obedience commands, training procedures and even how to feed him and get him a drink of water and put his “going out gear” on. 

Dusty has changed my life and i am so grateful to Asdogs.

Marg and Charlie

My name is Charlie and I look after Margaret Thomas.

I came to the family directly from weaning as a family pet.

Marg’s husband brought me into the home in 2005 to provide a 24/7 companion and an exercise option for Marg, who suffers severe depression and needed to be active, also needing support . 

After extensive enquiries, where most organisations would not entertain a private dog to be trained up for registration, Marg & husband moved to Dimbulah and met Liz from Asdogs.

Liz offered the option to assist with and supervise training for me and accreditation came about a year later.

I am Marg’s constant companion and go everywhere Marg does.

I enjoy a special place in the Thomas household.  My friendly personality endears me to most people which is great because I do enjoy meeting people.

Larraine and Matty

I met Matty when he was 10 weeks old—he was a big “boof head” puppy with a personality of his own.  My grandson Caleb taught him to close a door that same day.    

I knew from that moment that he was special!

Matty went to a puppy walker but when things didn’t work out,  I was given the opportunity to educate him, from when he was six months old.

From the start he never ceased to amaze me.  He only needed to be shown how to do something a couple of times for him to know what to do.   All he wanted to do was learn and to please.   He became a perfect assistance dog for someone in a wheelchair.  When he was nine months old,  we were in Tolga looking after my daughter’s property.  Matty was in the yard playing with the other dogs.  I am diabetic and that day had a bad dizzy spell.   Matty pushed through the screen door and pushed me to a chair and lay at my feet making it impossible for me to get up.   He stayed there until the dizzy spell passed and I felt right again, after which, he went outside to play! 

Over the next year or so he learned more and more becoming better and better with his training.   He still keeps an eye on me letting me know if I’m getting too stressed or if my sugar levels are too high.    Today Matt is my constant companion, with me day and night.   I felt guilty when Matt was offered to me by the Association.  I had trained him to help others and yet he was offered to me because of my disability.

I thank ASDOGS, for he is a big help to me…My diabetes is not improving as to date but I have my best friend to fetch, carry, alert me for my sugars and generally is there to look after me.  

I have no reflexes in my ankles and I am unsteady on my feet.  If I fall to the ground he is there to brace and help me up.  

I love you and thank you Matty.   You will always be my friend

Michael with Jetta

Jetta, one of ASDOGS purpose bred dogs, is working with Michael from Mackay, who has been in a wheelchair for many years.

 These two have formed a strong bond and have become a very special team.

 Jetta has been trained to do many tasks, including taking off Michael’s shoes and socks, opening doors, picking up dropped items and fetching things as required.

 With Jetta’s help, Michael has been able to retain some independence in his life and does not have to rely entirely on another person for his day-to-day needs.