Two hours is all it takes to make a difference in the lives of those with disabilities, says Wendy Isaacs of the Assistance Dogs New Zealand Trust.
Volunteers are urgently needed to help collect much-needed funds for the charitable trust during its national appeal and International Assistance Dogs' week.
The appeal week runs from August 7-13, and the trust needs collectors on Friday, August 12, and Saturday, August 13.
Wendy says the appeal week is a critical time for the trust and she'd be grateful to individuals, students or groups who can spare just a couple hours of their time to collect funds.
'We make it easy for collectors and provide everything you need – all you need to do is turn up on the day. Donating your time makes a huge difference to the trust and our families in in need.
'Every cent raised will go towards helping a person with a disability gain a special friend, who will help improve their daily living, independence and mobility.”
ADNZ is a charitable trust providing trained dogs to clients with a disability. The organisation evaluates each applicant individually and provides assessment, training and follow-up to meet each individual's specific needs.
Training is rigorous and takes about six months, during which time the dogs receive an assessment, obedience, social and task-specific training to suit the disability the dog will support.
The life cost of an assistance dog is $48,000. There is a waiting list of more than 40 families and current waiting time is now three to four years. ADNZ fields an average of eight to 10 new enquiries every week.
'There is a huge demand for assistance dogs,” says Wendy. 'These four-legged friends completely change the lives of families with disabled and autistic children across New Zealand.
'The dogs are specifically trained to enrich the lives of adults and children with disabilities as diverse as autism, diabetes or cerebral palsy.
'But without money generously donated by the community, we can't carry out this very important work.”
The Assistance Dogs New Zealand Trust has been operating for eight years and recently released its 30th dog to a family in need, with another three dogs ready to go out after appeal week.
To volunteer for Assistance Dogs New Zealand Trust national appeal week, email Wendy Isaacs at wendy@assistancedogstrust.org.nz or text/phone 022 137 4090.
Vodafone customers can text 7005 to donate $5, or 7010 to donate $10
Make a one-off donation online at assistancedogstrust.org.nz and click ‘Donate Now'.
Become a puppy sponsor for as little as $5 a week by joining the Gifted Puppy Programme – see asssistancedogstrust.org.nz
Join the movement and share a snap of yourself and your four-legged friend on the Assistance Dog New Zealand Facebook page with the hashtag #Woof4ADNZ