A.W.A.R.E. DOGS AUSTRALIA INC

I would like to write about the difference having an assistance dog has made to my life. I met Che Forest and saw what he was doing with A.W.A.R.E. in regard to placing animals with people to help enrich their lives. Not really understanding what an impact it would have to me personally, I agreed to foster a dog, with no intention of permanency, as I did not really want the responsibility of a full time animal and I had cats which I thought would be a problem. I didn’t feel confident that I would be able to train and maintain a dog, and I did not socialize much, spending most of my time at home, so having to be out and about with a dog and having to spend time with people learning to look after the dog was also a great fear for me.

Che chose a dog, Tara, who seemed to fit in with the whole family, my partner Tim, my sons, Joel and Caleb and the cats. It soon became clear to me that Tara and I had an amazing bond – the love I received from her was incredible. Che helped me to overcome my fears and taught me how to understand Tara, keep her happy and with his help, our training was easy, his methods were logical and they worked! Everyone was happy.

Due to Che’s training program, and the confidence it gave us all, the family decided to take on the addition of another fostered dog, which also fitted hand in glove with the family. After a period of time spent with Che and other dog and people partnerships he has created, I realize he has an almost uncanny ability to help put together people and dogs.

The support group of other MHAD users getting together, whether for coffee or outings has provided for me new and interesting social encounters I otherwise would definitely not have experienced, including visits to day centers for children to see and have contact with the dogs, schools and social events to enable the wider community to experience the world of assistance animals. The joy the dogs bring to people of all walks of life is an emotionally fulfilling experience for me and indeed the whole family, who all take part in varied events.

Having Tara has been the most amazing thing to have happened to me. She has given me so much and enabled me to lead a more enriched life – and to think I nearly didn’t have her because of fear – now I couldn’t be without her!

I am forever grateful to Che Forest and his A.W.A.R.E. dogs program for the changes he has helped me make to my life.

I had thought for a long time that having a dog that could go everywhere with me would help me a lot with my times of social phobia and anxiety. I also wanted to be able to move into a flat and live independently of my parents. I looked up mental health assistance dogs on the internet and could only find an American organization but they referred me to Che Forest of A.W.A.R.E Dogs.

I was on to Che on the phone immediately, as I was suffering a great deal of problems with life threatening self harm, and feared that I wouldn’t be able to take on the brand new flat being offered to me by Housing Tasmania. Che explained that I may have to wait for about four months as he needed the time to train a dog to suit me and my needs and to be able to pass the public access test. Fortunately enough for me, Che had an arrangement with a girl in Melbourne where he was placing a dog that fell through, and he said that if I could get myself over to Melbourne in the next week while he was attending a conference he could start my training and introduce me to Lottie, a three year old liver spotted dalmation.

Lottie was well behaved from the start, although very bonded to Che. It was frustrating at first, learning how to give the correct commands and for her to believe me!!!!! But it was evident from the very start that Che had a real connection to the dogs he trains, they adore him and behave impeccably for him.

I took Lottie home with me at the end of the week, and we quickly bonded. I was able to move into my flat with my constant companion, although we had some resistance from Housing Tasmania as it is a flat, but Che contacted them for me and soon sorted it out. Without Lottie, I would not be able to live independently. Her constant companionship and obedience has increased my confidence in public, and she comes everywhere with me. I still have periods where I have to be hospitalised, but my Mum looks after Lottie at these times.

The responsibility of having a dog has also been good for me, as it forces me to get up and going in the morning and to walk her – I have lost nearly 10kg since I got her!!!!!! She won’t let me isolate myself from the outside world by whimpering and howling when the phone rings. She comes to restaurants, the theatre, and cinemas and has been widely accepted and admired for her behaviour everywhere she goes. She has made such a difference to my life.

I look forward to spending more time with Che to learn as much as I can to managing Lottie at an optimal level – he is teaching me about how dogs respond more to body language than to voice commands.

The work that Che does is fantastic. And I have met another woman with an AWARE dog in Melbourne with whom I have formed a firm friendship with and am looking forward to visiting soon.

I would highly recommend him for any position which involves the training of assistance dogs.