Kids care for Smart Pup
Service dog at school
TAYLOR West and her fellow boarders at Townsville Grammar School have excitedly welcomed a furry friend into their care to help prepare it for a vital community role.
Smart Pup Assistance Dog Aggie will be loved and supervised by the boarders over the next six months until she is fully trained and ready to find a new home as an assistance dog for a child with special needs.
She will be the first in a series of dogs to stay with Townsville Grammar School boarders.
Year 10 student Taylor West said it was a fantastic opportunity to learn about the Smart Pups Program and to train with them to look after Aggie.
“We will only have Aggie for a short while, and then we will have another Smart Pup to look after in the same way. Aggie is already a part of the family,” Taylor said.
Director of boarding Jaye Beutel said they were excited to have formed this foster home partnership with Smart Pup Assistance Dogs as part of their boarding service program.
“There is a small group of boarders who will take the lead in the care of Aggie, and who will undergo training by the local Smart Pups co-ordinator,” Mr Beutel said
“However, Aggie will very much be a part of our overall boarding community, and all students and staff will be able to play a part in her care and general training.
“The boarding school environment is an ideal residence for a dog-in-training, as it’s important that they are exposed to wide and varied environments as part of their readiness to be a fully qualified service dog.”
He said the boarders were thrilled to have this service opportunity, especially given that many of them were missing their pets at home.
Aggie would be the first of many Smart Pups to come through their doors.
“Our only challenge will be letting her go to her new owner at the end of the six months,” he said.