We’re wrapping up the year

24 Dec We’re wrapping up the year

As another Smart Pup year draws to a close it is a traditional time to reflect on our achievements as a charity. Our 2019-year planner was crammed with names and dates of trainers and dogs, timetabling in our many placements. Thirty-seven dogs in all, placed with families all over Australia.

Between this busy schedule of training, placing and recertifying dogs we have also found time to organise, support and attend many fundraising events along with our amazing supporters. Thank you to all the organisations and individuals who made contributions, big and small to help us achieve our goals. Every dollar raised goes towards the training of a Smart Pup and every dollar counts.

2019 saw the work put into establishing our own breeding program start to pay dividends with Smart Pup bred puppies dominating this year’s graduation ranks and new litters born ready to take their places on the program.

Our highly successful partnership with the Queensland Correctional Service was expanded to take in a second prison in Ipswich, while our original partnership with Maryborough Correctional Centre celebrated twenty-one prison trained dogs, placed as assistance dogs.

Our status as one of Australia’s leading service dog training organisations was this year recognised with our successful tender for the Federally funded Department of Veterans Affairs, PTSD service dog program. This will see our training expand to meet the needs of a new client base.

For our thirty-seven families who received a Smart Pup in 2019 this year will always be remembered arrived. Comparisons will be made about life before the Smart Pup and life after. Those first bonds between child and dog will begin to grow, and with it will grow confidence, possibilities, and horizons.

We would like to say to a huge thank you to all our supporters, whether you are a corporate sponsor, a collector of donation boxes, a charity shop volunteer, a dog foster or simply put your spare change into one of our boxes. Smart Pups could not function without your support.

Our final words of 2019 will be left to some of the families who received their dog this year, because it is their words that mean the most and their testimonials that best summarise what we strive to achieve this year and every year.

Our placement week is over, it’s been an exhausting week but it’s so worth it, we enjoyed simple things like having my daughter, Lexie shopping alongside me and being able to have a look at a few things in the shop, we even tackled a local arcade

Tallis has been so awesome this week helping his boy cope with massive shutdowns and seizures. We’ve managed to keep Will out of hospital this week all because of Tallis and his quick responses to his boy.

So many positive changes not only with my daughter but also within my household and myself. These remarkable Smart Pups provide so much benefit to their special person and also their loved ones. I will forever be in your debt.

6 months yesterday we welcomed Dream into our family. Wednesday Lachlan had an interview about Dream and what it means to have her in his life. His biggest achievement is that mum doesn’t have to sleep on the floor anymore, and no more monsters in his room

We have had our Gordy for 2 months and 2 weeks and last night Gordy did his very first hospital visit to A&E and then to kids ward with our son Corey. Gordy did so well and he was very worried about his boy and wasn’t far from him at all. It was very cute to watch and so blessed to have Gordy with us.

Smart Pup Dougal continues to support our family in a way I didn’t think was possible. I really couldn’t imagine life without him, he is ALWAYS there. Appointments, school runs, trips, backyard, chillin on the couch, shopping trips he is with us supporting the kids

Kevin has alerted on Kenahdy so many times we have lost count and reassured her every single time. She now looks to him for support and uses him to guide herself when she’s unwell. He has saved countless finger pricks on a glucose machine as we have 100% trust that his alerts are accurate every time.

We have had Tango one whole year yesterday!! My goodness what a difference she has made! Thank you Patricia, our trainer Erica and all of the Smart Pups team. She has made life so-able in ways that were impossible beforehand. She has truly become part of our family, and reached our son in ways that therapy and medications could not. Our deepest gratitude xxx