Borzoi puppies, and printer, great gifts for charity Kotuku Foundation and its Canine Comrades programme

Stuart Thornton of Ricoh meets puppies Nadya and Anya with Sandy de Kock, Merenia Donne and Nina. Photo/Stuart Munro

They may be just 10 weeks old but two appealing pups are already in the early stages of training to become assistance dogs.

Nadya and Anya are Borzoi puppies donated to the Kotuku Foundation by Stratford breeder Warwick Goodin.

Kotuku Foundation Assistance Animals Aotearoa, a charity that connects people with often unseen impairments with specially trained assistance dogs, was founded in Whanganui by Merenia Donne in 2006.

Most of the dogs trained by the foundation have been adult dogs and some were already pets belonging to people they have been trained to assist.

Kotuku volunteer trainer Sandy de Kock is an experienced Borzoi owner who has been working with the pups and she says they are doing well.

"They already obey the command to sit and they both seem like very good dogs."

Donne, who sustained neurological damage in a car accident 18 years ago, has recently retired her own German shepherd assistance dog, Rica, and now has support from adult Borzoi, Nina.

She believes the new pups might grow up to be suitable to work with military veterans living with post-traumatic stress injuries.

"It's early days, but one or both of them might ultimately assist veterans in the future via our Canine Comrades programme in association with the RSA."

The foundation is also celebrating another valuable gift donated by Ricoh Whanganui manager Stuart Thornton.

The reconditioned printer and photocopier with a free service contract will be invaluable, Donne says.

"It will save us a fortune in copying and printing costs. We really appreciate the level of support we get from the community."

Thornton said his business has also donated reconditioned machines to the Alzheimers Society and Women's Refuge.

"It's a small way we can help community organisations and save them some stress and expense," he said.

Kotuku Foundation dogs have been trained to assist their owners with conditions that may include diabetes, cardiac and neurological conditions, anaphylaxis, narcolepsy and post-traumatic stress injury.