By JOLENE OGLE
ZOE the Labrador has been busy learning to be a Smart Pup for when she joins her new owner, a six-year-old boy with autism.
Zoe is being trained to be an assistance dog and at only 13 months, she can already track the scent of her new owner, and will be able to help calm and comfort him when needed.
Zoe’s trainer Ella Herrmann said Zoe is just one of many pups who are trained to help children who are either autistic, suffer from epilepsy or are in a wheelchair.
“There is a long waiting list for a Smart Pup,” she said.
“We train the dogs to track and to track fast, should a child wander from the home. The pups can also help prevent melt-downs and calm children with autism.”
Ella and Zoe were on hand at the Noosa Daybreak Rotary to help sort the 30,000 books that will be for sale at the annual Noosa Rotary Bookfest.
Noosa Daybreak Rotary are hoping to raise over $25,000 at the Bookfest, with a portion of the funds raised to go to help train pups like Zoe.
According to Smart Pups, the cost of training a puppy can be over $25,000 per dog and with such a long waiting list all funds raised help to home an assistance dog with a child in need as soon as possible.
Zoe will go to join her new family next week, with Ella travelling with Zoe to her new home to help her settle in.
“Zoe’s new owner has been waiting for three years,” Ella said.
“That’s one of the longest waits.
“We like to place the dogs with their new owners when the dog is still young so the puppy and the child can bond.
“Bonding is the most important thing and we want the dog and child to bond when they are young.”
The Noosa Daybreak Rotary Bookfest will be held from Friday 1 May to Sunday 3 May at the Noosa Leisure Centre, Wallace Drive, Noosaville.
Bookfest is open 9am to 5pm daily with books from as little as $1.
