MONTE
Monte the Whippet is an assistance dog. He lives with Geraldine, who has multiple sclerosis, is largely confined to a wheelchair, and lives alone. Monte plays a very large role in her life, providing both companionship and help with everyday tasks. Monte helps Geraldine by opening and closing doors and drawers picking up items she might drop on the floor, removing her socks, and barking to sound an alarm when asked to do so. They have also passed a public access test, which means that Monte is allowed to accompany Geraldine into shopping centres, restaurants, doctors surgeries, and other public places while wearing his special assistance dog coat.
Monte was adopted from the Animal Welfare League in February 2005. He spent three months with Cyn D. being trained before being placed with Geraldine. In that time, he attended a number of Pets for Therapy visits to nursing homes. These visits provide an excellent opportunity to socialise assistance dog trainees to large numbers of people and accustom them to wheelchairs and other equipment they are likely to encounter later on. Residents are usually fascinated to know what assistance dogs can do and to see them perform some of their tasks.
The organisation Cyn D works with in training assistance dogs was called Animal Assisted Therapy Australia, and has recently changed its name to Canine Helpers for the Disabled. It is a small voluntary group based in Brisbane.
You can learn more about this organisation at its website: http://www.therapydogs.org.au
