Belinda's Disability Assist Dog

Tana, a gorgeous disability assist dog who was beside his owner Belinda Simpson’s side every minute of every day, has sadly passed away after a brave fight with a severe infection.

Belinda counted on Tana for everything – from alerting her to imminent epileptic seizures to getting her a drink of water afterwards or the phone to call for help. He helped Belinda through her day and made sure she was mobile and safe. Tana was an extraordinary dog who enabled Belinda to live life to the full.

In Belinda’s words:

“It is difficult to express how remarkable Tana was as a dog, friend to many, therapy pet, disability aid, and his role in so many aspects of the community, as well as all that he did for me. He was my whole world. He had such a fulfilling life. I cannot believe he has gone."

"Tana was not only my closest friend, constant companion and confidant. He was an essential disability aid for every aspect of my life - and he loved his many roles. Tana was full of personality and character with an exquisite tail that flew like a golden flag with a constant smile on his face. Even though he took his working role very seriously, Tana also loved to play, always with a ball or his monkey in his mouth. He loved to swim and body surf and would literally throw his bag of treats at my feet when he felt he was deserving of one. He gave hope and unconditional love to many."

"Tana was the iconic perfect partner, founder, role model and mentor for the Perfect Partners Assistance Dogs Trust. He was a friend to many. Tana was also a therapy pet to many facilities over the last 6 years, teaching the dog safe programme in schools, featuring in TV documentaries, magazines and books promoting the incredible potential in dogs to touch people’s lives in so many different ways. Tana was a true ambassador for animal assisted interventions."

"Tana loved to entertain and really hammed it up when he had an audience (e.g. when counting and doing tricks for children), but the really essential role Tana played in helping me to overcome my disability related challenges in almost every aspect of my life was performed so perfectly and flawlessly, with no fuss, no audience, no public applause - that few would have even noticed just how much he was constantly doing to assist me to get through every day life. He was an absolutely remarkable dog in many many ways. His exuberance and joy for people and life was contagious."

"Tana had a special intuitiveness to anticipate my every need before I was even aware of them - and knew exactly how to respond, without making a big deal of it. He had a special ability to know if I was going to have a seizure and helped me to get to a safe place before the seizure; he stepped in close to me to assist with balance and prevent falls; he supported me to walk up and down stairs, picked up everything I dropped, brought me anything I needed and gave me the confidence to face life and people. People would never have been aware of the enormous role he was playing in assisting me with my every day disability related challenges because of the unspoken bond and communication between us. Tana enabled me to engage in daily life and maintain a role in the community. I had absolute confidence in him. He was my whole world.”