Lions anddogs have teamed for appeal

It may be an unlikely pairing in the animal kingdom, but in Hamilton, dogs and lions are teaming up.

For Assistance Dogs New Zealand Trust’s upcoming appeal, the Hamilton Riverside Lions Club will help with collections in August.

Assistance Dogs aims to enrich the lives of people with disabilities through the provision of reliable service dogs. It is a trust the Lions firmly support.

The Lions have donated money to the trust in the past and club president Aveline Clement said it was good that the Lions step up.

‘‘It’s just an automatic thing when something like this comes up,’’ she said.

Assistance Dogs trainer Julie Hancox said the cost to raise and train a pup was $20,000, with added expenses when the dog goes out to a family.

There are currently 30 trained dogs working in families with another 16 coming through.

Hancox said they have had a 100 per cent success rate, with the dogs settling in to their new homes.

The dogs are trained to promote independent living, mobility and companionship, and have made an impact on the lives of those living with or with someone in a wheelchair, who suffers from seizures, with autism, or diabetes.

‘‘It’s not about the name of the disability,’’ Hancox said, ‘‘but an organisation who trains dogs to cater for those with disabilites.’’

Assistance Dogs was founded in 2008 and the need is out there, Hancox said. It’s a trust that doesn’t just help an individual, but one that makes a difference to a whole family.

‘‘For a lot of these families there is no end. What we try to do is give these kids mobility and independence. Even if we can get them going to the supermarket, it is huge for the families.’’

Assistance Dogs has a waiting list they can’t keep up with, and there was only one way to fix this, Hancox said. Through funding.

‘‘As an organisation that started from scratch, clubs like the Lions are absolutely essential.’’

The Lions will be outside Rototuna New World on Friday August 12.

To get involved with the club contact 021414644 or visit www.lionsclubs.org.

June Scott, Julie Hancox and puppy Anna, Glenice Troth, Kathy Hall, and Aveline Clement with puppy Frankie are asking the community for help.