In October 2008 Nikki Burley and Associates, subsequently Burley Attwood Law, purchased Ezra, a golden retriever puppy, to be raised and trained as a mobility assistance dog.
Assistance dogs have been helping people with physical disabilities for over 30 years internationally.
The MISSION of the Trust is to "enhance the lives of people living with long term physical disabilities by providing trained mobility dogs to increase independence, confidence, self esteem and participation in New Zealand communities".
The Trust's first mobility dog 'working team' graduated at the end of 2005. As at May 2009 there are nine Mobility Dogs working teams. With such high demand for assistance dogs, Mobility Dogs continually operates a training programme. The number of dogs able to be trained is directly related to the funds and resources available.
Ezra is now being trained in Mobility Dogs Puppies in Prison programme where the Trust works in conjunction with the Department of Correction at a women's prison in Auckland. He has a full time handler who is doing an amazing job with Ezra. He is learning quickly and is advancing on his commands and tasks. He now needs to grow big and strong so he can help someone with many tasks.
Mobility dogs are trained to perform many tasks to help the lives of the physically disabled and their families, these include:
· activate pedestrian crossing buttons and push elevator buttons
· assist with transfers to/from a wheelchair
· retrieve dropped items
· fetch items - eg phones, remote controls, books
· retrieve mail and newspapers from a letterbox
· pay for purchases over counters
· turn light switches on and off
· fetch items from the supermarket shelf and place them in shopping basket
· deliver items from one person to another
· open and close cupboards, drawers and doors
· bark for help on command
· take off shoes, socks and jackets
· load/unload a washing machine and dryer
The team at Burley Attwood Law watch with great interest the progress Ezra is making and look forward to seeing him graduate.
For more information on Mobility Assistance dogs or to find out how you can help visit www.mobilitydogs.co.nz
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