Annual appeal for Assistance Dogs

Our virtual bucket shake is back, and we need amazing supporters like you to sign up and get shaking!

Last year, New Zealanders from across the country shook their virtual buckets in support of the Assistance Dogs NZ Trust Annual Appeal 2021. With Covid-19 cancelling our Street Collection, we quickly pivoted to an entirely virtual event. Through everyone’s collective efforts, our virtual bucket shake raised over $42,700.

This year we’re bringing it back, and we’d love for you to join us. As the demand for our services continues to increase, so do our expenses. We’re on a mission to help as many New Zealanders as possible, and that’s why we need your help.

Our mission is to enrich the lives of New Zealanders living with a disability by providing purpose-trained Assistance Dogs. Our dogs are quite literally lifechanging for not just their clients but for the whole family too.

However, the services and support we provide wouldn’t be possible without the support of our community. We are not government-funded, which means we rely entirely on the generosity of our supporters to continue operating.

Our goal is to raise $75,000 from our Annual Appeal 2022. Through our Street Collection, Virtual Bucket Shake and any one-off donations, we’re hoping to smash this goal so we can help more kiwi families waiting for their life-changing Assistance Dog.

Families like 7-year-old Callum’s, who has been joined at his Katikati home by ADNZT Jack. Callum has multiple disorders that affect his everyday life, including epilepsy, which causes relentless seizures. Callum is non-verbal, fed by a tube and gets around on a wheelchair. He requires around-the-clock supervision.

The arrival of Jack has been life-changing for Callum and his family.

‘’When Jack first arrived, Callum’s face just lit up! He went to give him a cuddle, got on his knees, and put all his weight on Jack. There was a bond right away.’’

We simply cannot achieve outcomes like this without you. Shaking a virtual bucket is the paw-fect opportunity if you’d like to help us fundraise, but you can’t make our Street Collection. Better yet, you can fundraise from the comfort of your own home.

Once you’ve signed up, share your page with your family, friends and colleagues and ask them to donate to your virtual bucket. You can sign up as an individual or as a group - whatever works for you.

Our virtual bucket shake will officially kick off on 1st September and run until the 30th September. That means you have one whole month to help us reach our target. Join up at www.assistancedogstrust.org.nz

Together we can make a difference in the lives of those needing our support. Thank you so much - we can’t wait to fundraise with you.