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1/ What are “Assistance Dogs”, and why do
you need them?
Answer:
Of all the FAQ’s, this would rate no. 1,
therefore I am dealing with it first. In my personal case, my dog
assists me with acute Claustrophobia and Confidence to be “Out There”
again. The pure freedom that these dogs can give is beyond words, but
better still, my dog is also “Emergency Trained”. This means that if I
collapse or have a bad turn, he is trained to seek assistance. A friend
once commented many years ago that I must have been drunk, then
realising that I was purely bound up with muscle cramps. This was well
before I had an Aid Dog, now folk know that I am disabled and I feel
proud again - my dog and I. He is also a “Medical Response” dog, who can
predict any serious problems that can occur, several minutes before they
actually occur. This gives me time to take myself to a ‘safe area’, or
seek help.
2/ How do
these dogs assist -
Answer:
They help alleviate
the effects of our disabilities. NO DOG can ever solve it all for us,
nor will doctors or medication. They all assist, and so does the dog,
without whom we would be very restricted.
3/ Are your dogs
Guide Dogs, or is their training the same?
Answer:
A “Guide Dog” is a
wonder dog indeed, trained to replace eyes. Our dogs are NOT guide dogs
and are often regarded as “Assistance Dogs” in law. Their training is
very different from that of a Guide Dog, although the principals of
Disability Assistance may well be similar, our Aid Dogs are NOT Guide
Dogs. We have a very workable relationship with the Guide Dogs
Associations.
4/ Why are our dogs so different - our
organisation so unique?
Answer:
All our
staff are disabled or the carers thereof, using training techniques that
go back hundreds of years. We see ourselves as a "Boutique Style"
organisation that specialises in excellence, with an eye on specialised
type applications with dogs.
5/ If I see you and
your dog working, can I come and pat your dog and say hello?
Answer:
In Short, NO - NO!!
Although we as the disabled handlers appreciate the enormous attraction
that these highly trained animals will exude, we plead with the public
to NOT distract them by approach nor patting.
6/ How long does it
take to train a dog and how much does it cost?
Answer:
Dependent on
disability application, it can take over six months to train a dog - 150
to 350 hours is a typical regime. The costs can range from $5,000.00 to
$25,000.00 - a lot of money with a priceless outcome.
See our website for more
details as the 'programs' we run change with demand.
7/ What sorts of
dogs do you use, for example, do you only use Labradors?
Answer:
We use many
different breeds, even cross breeds. We in fact use Labradors and Golden
Retrievers, but due to their high purchase cost and medical problems,
they have been, until recently, very hard to get. We use German
Shepherds by preference.
NOTE: We DO NOT use any Bull Terrier breeds, as in
Staffies, Pit Bulls, Rottweilers nor crosses thereof.
8/ If I have a dog
and want to have it trained into an aid dog to help me, can you do that?
Answer:
Yes. As long as the
dog is under 4 years old and passes our high standards for program
entrance - (Some Exemptions can apply)- please email us on the link at
bottom of page.
9/ How do I apply
and am I eligible under your programs?
Answer:
In essence, if you
have a medically certified ( Doctor’s Certificate ) disability, you may
be eligible for an Assistance Dog.
10/ How much will it
cost me to have one of your dogs?
Answer:
Almost all dogs we
train are subsidised by us. The costs to you are variable. Our
Organisation has a registered company that is a "Special Needs Company"
that are "Not For Profit", for "Charitable Applications" - so registered
with the Australian Securities and Investments Commission. The COSTS to
you are completely dependent on your situation and needs. We run
"Self Train Courses" for $5.00 each - plus assignments if you so desire
at $25.00 each. (All By Email) - or mail under certain circumstances.
11/ Are your dogs
recognised in law and by Government?
Answer:
Yes,
in most cases.
All our dogs are recognised in law, as we have recognition from all
levels of Government in Australia, it’s territories and the “Australian
Commonwealth”. However, there will always be discrimination out
there - even Guide Dogs still get refused entrance in some instances.
12/ What laws permit the use of these dogs?
Answer:
The 1992, Federal
Disability Discrimination Act of 1992, including many state and
territory laws and legislation that may, from time to time, be in force.
Legal rights vary from state to state, but as a general rule, it is
Federal Legislation that will prevail.
These printable downloads
below require Adobe Reader Version 7 or Higher. Go to www.adobe.com,
and download this Adobe Reader (Latest Version), also available below..
Here For
The Disability Discrimination Act 1992.
(PDF 7)
Adobe Reader (PDF) Latest Version is available
for FREE download -- Below
The Latest FREE Adobe Reader
Download Here
We can train dogs to almost any
application
Email
Us Here - Home Page -
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