New mobility dog to replace poisoned mobility dog

We are fundraising to replace my wife’s mobility dog that was tragically killed by rat poison that someone threw over our fence.

My wife Margaret is permanently in a wheel chair as a result of advanced Multiple Sclerosis. Her dog “Duke” that she had for five years was everything to her.

Margaret’s mobility dog had a vocabulary of some 90 commands. Around the house he delivered items to her such as her watch and socks after she had her personal care each day. In addition to this he picked up dropped items from the floor which she cannot reach. He also would get the phone when asked and bark on command if needed for security or other reasons. He provided much security for Margaret in that he could summon assistance through a command “Alert! Find Bruce” at which he would search me out and worry me until I went with him. Around the house he also opened and closed doors. When Margaret was out and about on her mobility scooter he pressed pedestrian buttons and learnt to guide Margaret to the safest places when crossing kerbs when crossing a road. When Margaret was gardening he was never more than a metre away and by the use of a command ”Brace” he was able to aid Margaret in getting back onto her mobility scooter from kneeling on the ground

In addition to this he also provided great companionship and was an instrument in breaking down the inherent awkwardness when people see a person in a wheel chair. His greatest help was in reducing Margaret’s fatigue which is the bane of every sufferer from MS and allowing Margaret a level of independence that few other MS sufferers could match.

We are both superannuitants so raising the funds for a new mobility dog is quite a hurdle. The client cost for a mobility dog is in the vicinity of $4,000 although the cost of providing a dog is in the order of $50,000 which the Mobility Assistance Dogs Trust needs to fundraise

So we hope you can see from the above why we must replace Duke as soon as possible and ask for your help in achieving this.

We would also ask you to consider a donation to the Mobility Assistance Dogs Trust that made all this possible for Margaret.

Thank you for considering our cause. Any assistance would be well used and very gratefully received.