Local dog breeder Megsey’s Goldadors and Golden Retrievers generously donated a highly prized golden retriever pup to local charity PTSD Dogs on Monday to train the dog to become a vital assistance dog for a veteran or first responder suffering from PTSD.
The charity, that mostly accesses rescue dogs from shelters and pounds, was thrilled to be gifted this valuable puppy to assist them with their important work, improving the mental wellbeing and the lives in general, of veterans and first responders.
The Cooroy-based charity trains their dogs to become highly skilled assistance dogs, then place the dogs, at no cost with a PTSD-affected veteran or first responder wit PTSD.
“With Covid, pups have become so expensive, it is just not affordable for us to buy pups, so this is just the most generous gift. We normally rescue dogs, but we certainly don’t say no when someone offers to give us one,” PTSD Dogs CEO Angie Weeks said.
It costs about $40,000 to fully train, house and maintain a dog, so the charity, that relies on donations, sponsorships, and grants to operate, will be calling on the public for donations of support, to help raise and train the puppy.
Receiving an assistance dog is completely life-changing and some times life saving for clients who often suffer from conditions including anxiety, depression, panic attacks and night terrors and more. The dogs offer unconditional love and constant companionship and in addition each dog is trained to meet the specific needs of their handlers.
Some have night terrors, and require the dog to turn on a light, rouse them from their sleep or apply deep pressure therapy by lying on top of them, to comfort them. Others may suffer from physical injuries that prevent them from bending down to retrieve items off the ground, so the dog is trained to retrieve those items for them.
If you’d like to donate to help call 0488 10 10 26 or visit ptsddogs.org.au/donate/
