Highly-trained dogs provide lifeline

Kotuku Foundation members Carol Jenkins, trainer, Lola, web designer Brad Tipper, Rica and founder Merenia Donne. Photo/Stuart Munro

It may be a dog's life but for the lucky canines chosen by the Kotuku Foundation, it is a very good life.

Founder Merenia Donne says the aim of the organisation is to ensure that the dogs and the people they are trained to assist enjoy good lives together.

Nominated for a Pride of New Zealand award in the Community Spirit category, the foundation runs mainly on voluntary assistance.

The foundation's byline "Assistance Animals Aotearoa" gives some indication of the work they do, training dogs to assist people with disabilities and medical conditions.

"We are so fortunate to have a range of wonderful people who give their time and expertise without payment." says Ms Donne.

People like Brad Tipper who has designed the foundation's website as a student and is now working towards its completion while working around other commitments.

Trainer Carol Jenkins has worked in conjunction with Greyhounds As Pets, and Women's Refuge on a project called "heeling hounds" to foster a group of retired racing dogs.

"Thanks to Carol's contribution, the endeavour succeeded in re-homing all the participating greyhounds and the refuge trainers received solace and support from the endeavour as well." Ms Donne said.

There are three other expert trainers who freely give of their time to train disability assistance and medical response dogs.

Medical response dogs are trained to respond to potentially life-threatening changes in their handlers' conditions which may include diabetes, cardiac and neurological conditions, anaphylaxis and narcolepsy.

The foundation does not breed or work with very young dogs. "It's hard to gauge a young puppy's personality, between one and two years old is good because they are teachable and you can see what sort of dogs they are likely to become.

"Some dogs fail police training because they are too laid back. Those dogs are great for our purposes."

Ms Donne founded the organisation in 2006 after the death of Nikki, her German Shepherd, that had rescued Ms Donne from what could have been a fatal car accident.

"I was unconscious and she dragged me from the car and up the bank to a safe distance.

"When Nikki was diagnosed with an untreatable bone disease some time later, I was devastated. It broke my heart to think that she had saved my life and I couldn't save hers. I started the foundation in her memory, to foster special relationships between dogs and people."