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http://www.assistancedogstrust.org.nz/

Assistance Dogs New Zealand Trust, PO Box 36406, Merivale, Christchurch (2025)

09/07/2025

Happy 11th birthday to our incredible Pip - and congratulations on your well-earned retirement! 🎉🐾

Last Friday, Pip officially hung up his Assistance Dog jacket after years of loyal service as a Diabetic Alert Dog for his wonderful client, Brenda.

Since graduating in 2017, Pip has been nothing short of a lifesaver. Brenda recalls their first meeting that August as “the best time of my life.” Despite being told their bond would grow over time, Pip got straight to work, alerting Brenda to a dangerously low blood glucose level just 20 minutes after meeting her.

From that moment on, Pip changed everything.

"The stress levels reduced greatly for me, my family, friends, workmates, and the Dunedin Diabetic Endocrinology Team, dramatically being able to take control back of my life knowing Assistance Dog Pip could keep me safe from constantly low blood glucose levels and injuries from unconsciousness.

Over the years, Pip has been a lifesaver numerous times for me. He is well known in Dunedin and truly respected by all who meet him."

As he settles into retirement, Pip is enjoying the quiet life, curled up on the sofa, never far from Brenda’s side.

Thank you so much, Pip, for your years of devoted service. Have the best retirement, sweet boy. 💙

02/07/2025

Step up for a Pawsome cause: Become an Area Coordinator! 🐾💙

We’re on the hunt for incredible volunteers to make a difference by leading our Street Collection 2025 - our biggest fundraising event of the year!!

We're looking for Area Coordinators in:

📍 Auckland (Central, North, East, South & West)
📍 Tauranga
📍 Wellington
📍 Christchurch

As an Area Coordinator, you’ll play a key leadership role, helping to organise, motivate, and support our volunteer collectors, all while helping raise vital funds that change lives through our incredible Assistance Dogs.

🗓 Street Collection Dates: 19 – 22 September 2025

What you'll be doing:
✔️ Coordinating and supporting volunteers in your area
✔️ Keeping collection sites running smoothly
✔️ Liaising with our friendly ADNZT team
✔️ Managing daily banking of funds raised

If you’re a natural organiser, great with people, and passionate about creating positive impact, we’d love to hear from you.

📩 Please contact our Fundraising Assistant, Bella, on [email protected] or 021 222 3881 to get involved.

Thanks so much - we can't wait to hear from you!

30/06/2025

🌟 Employee of the Month - June 🌟

Congratulations Ruby! 😍 This month, Ruby has truly stepped up - not just in her training, but as a big sister too.

Since welcoming her half-sister Tawera into her puppy raiser’s home, Ruby has taken on the role of mentor with calm confidence. She’s been showing Tawera the ropes, helping her settle in, and setting a great example with her lovely manners and responsiveness.

According to our Puppy Development Coordinator, Nadia, Ruby’s been a wonderful influence, and the two pups are quickly becoming inseparable. Even when the "bossy little madam" pushes the limits, Ruby keeps her cool. (She even stays calm during the occasional face swipe from the resident cat, Tiggy!)

Ruby has handled the change with grace and patience, and we’re so proud of the gentle leadership she’s showing. Congratulations, sweet girl!

P.S. How cute are her little tucked paws in the first photo 😭🐾

29/06/2025

We’re thrilled to share some wonderful news - Assistance Dog Izzak has officially graduated! 🥳🎓

“His family are absolutely obsessed with him, and he’s already making a huge difference in their everyday lives. The bond between him and his client has been one of the fastest I’ve ever seen - he follows her everywhere, hangs out in her room, sleeps on her feet, and gets plenty of treats from her!”
- Assistance Dog Instructor, Hannah

Part of our February 2023 ‘I’ litter, Izzak was lovingly named by our Gold Sponsors, the Lindsay Foundation, and is now settling beautifully into life with his new client and family in the South Island.

We couldn’t be prouder of him – and we’re so grateful to everyone who helped shape his journey, including his incredible puppy raisers and boarders, and our dedicated team members, Nadia, Michelle and Hannah. 💛

📸 Huge thanks to Melissa Howard Photography for capturing Izzak’s big milestone (even if he’s a bit camera-shy! 😂).

Please join us in celebrating Izzak. What a superstar - your future is looking pawsitively bright. 🌟🐶

26/06/2025

Welcome to formal training, Rosie! 🤩

After a slightly extended initial assessment (thanks to a little illness detour), we’re excited to officially welcome our sweet Rosie into formal training with Aaron! 💛

She’s already showing some lovely potential. She's incredibly affectionate, quick to adapt to new environments, and very food motivated (maybe a little too much at times... we’re still working on her not turning into a land shark at snack time 🦈🍖).

Rosie recently moved in with a new family, where there are two older kids who absolutely adore her. Recently, one of them was having a tough time, and Rosie instinctively offered cuddles and comfort. Moments like that show just how special she could be as a future Assistance Dog.

We’ve got a few things to work on (particularly her love of flying up the stairs like it’s the Olympics 🏃‍♀️) and we’ll also be keeping an eye on how she handles excitement. She’s shown a keen interest in fetching, so we’re curious to see if retrieval work might be in her future!

For now, we’ll be building a strong foundation in obedience before moving into task training. We’re so proud of how Rosie is settling in, and we can’t wait to see her grow in the coming months 🐶✨

24/06/2025

🐾 Night at the Museum... Nina edition! 🦴

During a recent training trip to Dunedin, Assistance Dog-in-training Nina joined staff members Hannah and Aaron on a visit to the Otago Museum. It was a great chance to see how she handled a new environment - and she took it all in her stride.

Nina was a total professional on the day, but there were a couple of moments that made the team smile. She was a bit perplexed by the whole “walk a few steps, stop, repeat” rhythm of museum exploring. The team could almost hear her thinking, “What are we even doing right now?” 😂

She gave some of the animal displays a curious sniff - especially the lion - just to make sure it wasn’t real. Once she figured that out, she was ready to move on. The alligator? No hesitation. Just another day on the job. 🐊

From cafes to gardens, long drives to new faces, it was an amazing week full of training opportunities, and Nina handled it like a pro.

💙 A heartfelt thank you to everyone who’s supported Nina on her journey, especially those who generously donated to help care for her health when she was a puppy. Thanks to you and her amazing puppy raisers, boarders, and trainers, she's making wonderful progress. We hope you’re as proud of her as we are! 💙

📸 Swipe to see Nina brave the alligator!

23/06/2025

To wrap up National Volunteer Week, we'd love to shine the spotlight on one of our amazing Puppy Raisers, Emma 💙🎉

Emma is currently raising her second puppy with us – Ronnie – and is one of those rare people who brings energy, kindness, and generosity to everything she does. Nadia, our North Island Puppy Development Coordinator, says:

“Emma goes above and beyond her role as a puppy raiser. She is always thinking of new ways to fundraise for us, has bought many toys for our young pups, utilises her role on the PTA at her son’s school to assist us in any way she can, and always makes time for her role as a puppy raiser. She has such a positive attitude and tells me that she wants to puppy raise for many years to come, which is such a privilege for ADNZT.”

Emma says, “When I first learned about Assistance Dogs, I immediately thought of so many children we’ve met who would benefit from having one. Volunteering has brought so much happiness into our lives.”

From morning cuddles with a goofy ball of fluff to spontaneous conversations in the community, Emma is helping to spread awareness, educate others, and raise our future heroes.

“It’s seeing the amazing difference these dogs make in people’s lives that truly fulfills me.”

A heartfelt thank you to each and every one of our incredible volunteers. Whether you're caring for our puppies and dogs, lending a hand at events, or helping us fundraise, your support makes an extraordinary difference.

Because of you, more New Zealanders living with a disability can experience greater independence, confidence, and connection.

From the bottom of our hearts, thank you all so much! 🐾

20/06/2025

As part of National Volunteer Week, we’re spotlighting a few of the incredible people who support our dogs with time, love, and dedication. There are so many we could mention, but today, we’re proud to recognise Sharon. 💛🐶

Sharon is a first-time puppy raiser and has absolutely hit the ground running with Queenie. Nadia, our North Island Puppy Trainer, says:

“Sharon is never phased by the many things I request of her, including being personal chauffeur to Queenie, going as far as Cambridge to Auckland. She has Queenie’s best interests at heart and is always spot on with her intuition when Queenie needs to see a vet. Sharon takes a particular interest in Queenie’s training and has a real knack for timing and patience around changing behaviour. We are lucky to have her as part of our ADNZT family.”

Sharon says, “When I found the Assistance Dogs website and read the client stories, I knew that this was the organisation we wanted to help. Being a puppy raiser to a dog that would make such a difference to a person's life was something we could actually do (if we were accepted!).”

Seven months into their puppy raising journey, Sharon and her family have fully embraced the ADNZT whānau.

“It’s a wrap-around support network,” she says. “Our puppy raisers and boarders group share their latest antics, boarders like Linda have Queenie if we are away, and the Assistance Dogs team let us know what we should be doing and check in regularly. Nadia (our coordinator) is fab at giving sage advice and a pep talk in one.”

Queenie is smart, courageous and loving, and Sharon takes great joy in seeing her learn and grow. “The positive impact she has on us is much more than we expected. It reminds us of what great things she will do when she is all grown up.”

We’re so grateful to have Sharon on this journey with us. 💛

19/06/2025

ADNZT’s Ruby has been rubbing paws with some of the best in the biz! 🐾✈️

She recently attended the Veterinary Conference in Wellington and was an absolute star, taking crowds, applause and attention in stride (and gathering quite the fan club along the way!).

From navigating busy sessions to greeting new faces with her usual charm, Ruby showed just how poised and well-mannered our dogs can be in a professional setting. A huge thanks to Hill’s Pet Nutrition for welcoming Ruby to their stand! She loved being part of the action and meeting so many animal lovers!

16/06/2025

National Volunteer Week: Thank You Lynda!

This week, we’re celebrating some of the amazing volunteers who go above and beyond for our dogs. Today, we want to give a big shoutout to Lynda. 🎉💛

When Rosie, one of our Assistance Dogs in training, needed some extra TLC, Lynda stepped in without hesitation. Aaron, our South Island Dog Trainer, said:

“I recently reached out to her on short notice when we needed a volunteer to board one of our Assistance Dogs who wasn’t feeling well. Lynda not only said yes right away, but she cared for Rosie for several weeks while she recovered. Rosie went to work with Lynda during the day and gave her some company in the office, which I know Lynda quite enjoyed.”

Thanks to Lynda’s care and kindness, Rosie had the time she needed to rest and recover (soft toy she’s had since birth in tow) before transitioning into her next training home.

Ngā mihi, Lynda. Volunteers like you are the heart of what we do, and we want you all to know how grateful we are 💙🐾

15/06/2025

Taine’s meeting new friends 🐈

Colder nights are setting in across New Zealand, and Taine from our T litter is settling in just in time to enjoy them! 🐶❄️🔥

Recently placed with his wonderful puppy raiser family, Taine is already making himself at home, especially by the fire. In this sweet photo, he’s getting to know the family cat, who’s still deciding what to make of this new and enthusiastic addition to their family.

We’re so grateful to our amazing puppy raisers who help our pups feel safe, loved, and ready to learn. Welcome home Taine, enjoy the cosy evenings and getting to know the family. 🐾💛

13/06/2025

🌟 May Employee of the Month: Pepper! 🌟

She’s still learning, but during May, Pepper truly stood out!

Pepper’s taken on new challenges lately, from city events to shared training spaces with other dogs. She’s handled them all with curiosity and calm, even while adjusting to a new handler.

Her beachside boarding family adores her, and she’s loving post-training walks and beach runs. She’s also begun exploring behavioural disruption tasks to support children with sensory overload.

Pepper’s still growing into her role, but she’s already making a big impact, and we couldn’t be prouder. 🐾💙

Assistance Dogs New Zealand Trust

09/07/2025

02/07/2025

30/06/2025

29/06/2025

26/06/2025

24/06/2025

23/06/2025

20/06/2025

19/06/2025

16/06/2025

15/06/2025

13/06/2025

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Monday	9am - 5pm
Tuesday	9am - 5pm
Wednesday	9am - 5pm
Thursday	9am - 5pm
Friday	9am - 5pm