To fund an ADNZ Assistance Dog for Isla

Thank you for visiting our fundraising page.

It costs up to $48,000 to raise and train an Assistance Dog throughout its life. Recipients of ADNZ Assistance Dogs are required to help the Charity by raising money towards the costs associated with training an Assistance Dog. The Trust relies totally on community generosity, our fundraising goal is $20,000.

Isla was diagnosed at 3 years old with a rare chromosome deletion that causes autism and epilepsy.

She is now 7 years old but in most ways she is like a much younger child in terms of unpredictability, toileting, tantrums and sleep disturbance. She goes to school at Glendowie Primary in the Sommerville Special School Satellite Class and has developmental delay in all areas.

Taking Isla on family outings, to the shops or trying to watch her sisters sporting events are stressful and exhausting and these days she gets left at home because its too hard but because of this she is becoming more and more introverted and it is difficult to motivate her to do anything out of the house. She has to be watched constantly as she is a sensory seeker and finds it very hard to stay still and is unpredictable which puts her in danger.

ADNZ Assistance Dogs are specially trained to match the needs of their companions.

As Isla needs constant supervision and frequent restraint for her own safety, a special dog will give her:

A measure of independence. We could go out more as a family and Isla wouldn’t always have to be left at home with a carer. Hopefully this will enable her to become more social and more willing to venture out.

Increased safety. Being harnessed to the dog will stop her running onto the road or putting herself in dangerous situations as the dog acts as an anchor.

A focus in challenging/sensory overwhelming situations. The dog will be her calm companion.

A positive point of interaction with strangers. The focus shifts from a child with strange behaviour to a beautiful dog obviously working to help a child with different abilities.

A constant, unwavering friend with no judgement or expectation.

The dogs are trained to a high standard, just like guide dogs for the blind and have the right to go into any public place - including, supermarkets, shopping malls, food outlets, motels or hotels, movie theatres and restaurants. They are also entitled to travel on all forms of public transport.