Meet Maggie. She’s a voluntary member of Auckland Council’s staff with a very special purpose.
Maggie is a working Mobility Dog in training.
A day in the life
For those living with a physical disability, everyday tasks such as paying at the checkout, opening the fridge and switching lights on can be obstacles. Working Mobility Dogs are trained to help with these daily activities and more. This may include retrieving items from the floor such as a phone or wallet, closing drawers, pressing lift buttons, and even helping out with dressing in the morning.
Mobility Dogs are vital in enabling their owner to be independent. They also provide much loved companionship and can be a great boost to the confidence and self-esteem of someone with accessibility needs.
Learning to serve
Maggie is currently being puppy raised as a Mobility Dog by Mara Bebich, Stakeholder Manager for Infrastructure and Environmental Services at Auckland Council. During her training, Maggie has been learning how to take the bus and behave in public. Maggie also accompanies Mara to work to become familiar with an office environment.
Mara says Auckland Council is typical of the workplace that people supported by Mobility Dogs work in. However not all workplaces would willingly allow a dog-in-training in their office and Mara appreciates Auckland Council’s support of Maggie coming in every day.
“I am excited and grateful that Auckland Council is supportive of this. Accessibility and understanding of our diverse communities is also an important learning we can take from having Maggie in the workplace.”
After her year at Auckland Council, Maggie will go into the Mobility Dogs training programme before being placed with someone living with a physical disability.
How to get involved
If you’d like to become a Puppy Raiser for a dog like Maggie, or apply to have a Mobility Dog yourself, contact Lisa Hawes at lisa.hawes@mobilitydogs.co.nz or visit the Mobility Assistance Dogs Trust website.
Mobility Assistance Dogs Trust is also looking for volunteers to help with a number of other areas such as administration, legal, disability awareness and more.
