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Help raise funds for a Therapy Dog for Willow to recover from severe anxiety and an eating disorder (ARFID)

  • Thank you for all your support

      8 August 2021

    We now have our wonderful Therapy dog 'Bandit'. He has brought so much joy to our lives and in particular the life of little Willow. She is moving through what was a scary and extremely tough time in her life with the help of her big, furry companion Therapy dog.

    Willow is now attending school part-time, starting swimming lessons and this is just the start. We are taking it a step at a time and all of your support and generosity has helped to make this possible.

    Thank you everyone

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  • We have our Therapy puppy!

      15 June 2021
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    We have had a very busy exciting week: We packed up the family and travelled to Tauranga, staying for 4 nights close to Wendy the Therapy dog trainer.

    We met our new Therapy Puppy ‘Bandit’ at a park and played many games to build doggie bonding with our family. We then spent lots of time over the next 3 days with Wendy and Bandit training us as Therapy Dog owners.

    As we got to know this adorable puppy, we discovered why Wendy had matched him with Willow. He is playful, attentive, loyal & wanting to please. The effect on Willow is immediate; She just wants to cuddle him and follow him wherever we take him.

    Willow went into many unfamiliar places with us as we were training: A mall, a cafe, K-mart, a supermarket, all things Willow would have struggled to do. Every new place Willow goes is another small milestone for her as she builds her resilience and confidence. And every time she is comfortable being somewhere without an adult right by her side, is a step towards her being more at ease in herself.

    This is why we knew this would be so healing for her and we are already seeing a change in her.

    We have some big challenges ahead with Willow including re-integrating back into school, being in social situations, extracurricular classes etc. With the companionship of her Therapy Dog she will be able to face these challenges with more resilience.

    Thanks again for all your support to help us get to this point in our journey with Willow.

    When you see us next, it will be with our new member of the family Bandit, Willow's new best buddy!

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  • We have reached our funding goal!

      17 May 2021

    Thanks to everyone's incredible kindness and generosity we have achieved our fundraising goal!

    The Lotteries Commission has notified us that our application for funding for the remainder of the cost for the Therapy dog has been approved. That means that with the generous donations you all gave together with the Lotteries Commission, we have reached our goal.

    We are waiting with huge excitement to hear from the trainers about which Therapy dog will be matched with Willow, and are expecting to hear from them any day now.

    We will send you all an update once we hear from them :-)

    With gratitude and thanks,

    Willow, Gracie, Dawn & Mason

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  • This is Finn, a chocolate Labradoodle, who Willow has fallen in love with.

      20 March 2021
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    We travelled down to Tauranga and stayed with the goal of spending some time seeing the puppies at Wendy’s Therapy dog training home to see which of the puppies would suit Willow.

    Even travelling to and staying away from home was a huge milestone for Willow and something we have not been able to do for over a year. But the excitement of seeing the puppies was enough to get Willow to give it a go. We had a few challenges: anxiety in the long car ride, stopping to go toilet at a cafe that Willow would not go near and then when we arrived we decked out the place with everything from home to make it as familiar as possible. Toys, blankets, safe food and drink, our own cups, plates, cooking utensils… Once we had her settled, then leaving the place was the next challenge, her anxiety was really up.

    When we visited the puppies home the next day, Wendy and Lynda brought out puppies one at a time for Willow to feel safe with and play. Allowing her to get a feel for which puppy might suit Willow. Willow developed a close bond with a few of the puppies.They were all so beautiful.

    Then the big challenge: Lynda suggested that we take one of the therapy puppies for a walk into a cafe. After some trepidation, Willow walked the dog inside and we all sat down. Willow did not eat anything and there was a little freakout about a cake ordered, but even going in there was a massive milestone and proof that having a Therapy dog could reduce Willow’s anxiety to a point that she can overcome her obstacles.

    Fingers crossed they decide Willow can have him and we can start our own training in another month!

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