Numerous
organisations in Victoria help foster the important roles that animals can play
in our lives - whether it's through horse riding schools for the disabled,
assistance dogs for the disabled or elderly, or programs helping people to keep
their pets when they go into care or become less capable of doing so
themselves. Here is a list of some of these organisations.
Assistance
Dogs Australia trains Labradors and Golden Retrievers to
help enhance the quality of life and improve the level of independence for
people with physical disabilities, promoting greater mobility, confidence and
higher self-esteem.
Balwyn Welfare
Association Companion Animal Volunteer Support program operates
through the City of Boroondara and provides support services to frail older
people and people with disabilities to help them keep and care for their pets
at home. Services include dog walking, bathing, grooming, and assistance in
transporting a companion animal to the veterinarian.
Canine
Helpers for the Disabled Inc. trains assistance dogs for
people with different disabilities, including Hearing Dogs for the hearing
impaired, Service dogs for people with physical disabilities, Therapy Dogs for
people with emotional, psychological or social disorders, and for children, and
Facility Dogs for Special Schools and Rehabilitation Programs. They work with
animal shelters and rescue groups wherever possible to give unwanted dogs a new
life.
The State
Government's Responsible Pet Ownership Program involves
free visits to Primary Schools and Kindergartens by pet educators and their
temperament tested dogs. The visits teach children about pet care and safety
with pets including dog attack prevention.
The
Delta Society runs a variety of programs that work under
the philosophy of using the human-animal bond to comfort the sick in hospitals
and aged care facilities, develop more confident children, teach children about
dog safety, and promote reward based training methods to develop happy and
contented pets.
Dogs Victoria Therapy Dogs coordinates
dogs to visit residents in aged care homes.
Guide
Dogs Victoria's Pets as Therapy program provides
appropriate reclassified dogs for Victorian children who have a vision
impairment. Many of these children with a vision impairment may progress on to
being full time Guide Dog handlers as adults.
Knox CommunityVolunteers Inc., Pet Companion Program is funded by the Department of
Health and Human Services and provides support to older people and people with
a disability who require assistance in caring with their pets. Services include
dog walking, pet bathing and grooming and transport. The service operates in
Victoria, in Knox and Maroondah as well as some parts of the Yarra Ranges and
Whitehorse.
Lead the
Way - Psychology and Animal Assisted Therapy is a
Melbourne-based service dedicated to studying and enhancing knowledge in
Animal-Assisted Therapy and providing professional psychology services that
integrate dogs.
PetLinks
Program operates in the Port Phillip area and helps aged people and people
with disabilities care for their animals at home. Services include dog walking,
grooming, cage cleaning, transport, and foster care when owners are unwell.
Real Animals
Pets and People is a consultancy which aims to address gaps
in support services within the aged, disability and community based sectors for
the companion animals of the elderly and disabled living at home.
Riding for
the Disabled Association of Victoria helps to
reduce the barriers that young people with a disability have historically faced
to develop equestrian skills in sporting, competition and recreational
activities with their peers.
Seeing Eye Dogs
Australia provide support and Seeing Eye Dogs for Australians who are blind
or vision impaired.
The
Wishbone Foundation provides free pet care to
owners who are elderly and/or disabled. Clients must be receiving a government
benefit as their primary source of income. Assistance includes dog walking,
transportation to the veterinarian, washing and grooming, and respite care. The
Foundation also offers grooming, walking and 'doggy daycare' to the general
public, using the profits to support the work done free-of-charge for clients.
Source: http://agriculture.vic.gov.au/pets/care-and-welfare/animals-and-people/animals-assisting-people
