Eli gains a loyal and helpful canine friend
Waikanae six-year-old Eli Burkhalter has a new and very loyal friend - Taffy, a two-year-old golden labrador assistance dog.
Born with spastic quadriplegic cerebral palsy, Eli cannot walk, talk or sit upright, and he requires fulltime care, provided largely by his widowed mother Simone Burkhalter and older brother Sean, 8.
They welcomed Taffy into their family one month ago and he and Eli quickly became friends.
Burkhalter said Taffy was a companion dog as much as he was an assistance dog.
‘‘Eli is definitely calmer and happier with someone around him, and Taffy can be that constant companion,’’ she said.
While Sean was ‘‘very helpful’’, Taffy could also help with some tasks. For example, if he dropped a toy onto the floor, the dog could pick it up and return it to him. He could also retrieve the television remote control, was trained to walk alongside Eli in his wheelchair, and could also seek help if needed.
‘‘Taffy just needs to remember that Eli is the one he needs to look after, not his older brother Sean.’’
Burkhalter said Taffy was a ‘‘lovely addition to the family’’ and joined their two other pets, a Jack Russell dog named Molly and Lizzie the cat.
‘‘Both dogs have adjusted well to each other. It took a bit longer with the cat.’’
She had certainly noticed a bond developing between Eli and Taffy in the month since they were united.
‘‘Eli cannot sit upright unaided, so when he is sitting on the sofa, Taffy will sit next to him and stop him tipping over. Seeing them together is nice. Also, Eli has never been a great sleeper, so having Taffy sleeping next to him will help Eli sleep better too.’’
New to the job, Taffy would require further training. A blue assistance dog vest helped people recognise that he was a working dog.
‘‘Other kids are aware of Eli being in a wheelchair and nonverbal, but having a cute dog with him helps encourage them to come up and start chatting. It’s a good talking point.’’
Burkhalter said she was grateful for the help and support her family received from friends and the local community, as well as from the Assistance Dogs New Zealand Trust.
In addition to the $20,000 initial cost for Taffy, they will need to raise a further $20,000 for ongoing training and support over his lifetime.
This Saturday the ‘‘Waikanae River Walk‘‘ would be held as a fundraiser. People should meet at the Greenway Road car-park at 2pm for the walk along a fullyaccessible track to the beach.
For more information and fundraising event updates, visit www.facebook.com/taffy4eli Donations can also be made online at givealittle.co.nz/fund raiser/eliandtaffy