Dogs Camp Out For Fundraising

G'day Dog Lovers,

Last year’s inaugural Doggy Fantastic Camping weekend, a joint fundraising venture by Variety Queensland, Aussie Pooch Mobile and Craig A Murray Specialist Dog Trainers, was a resounding success, raising over $3000 for Harry, the little pound puppy being trained as an assistance for 3-year-old Reilly Paterson, who suffers from autism. And since Harry has gone to live with Reilly, it’s been a success story all round.

“Harry has truly changed our lives. He’s like a ray of sunshine in our home. Managing Reilly in the community has become easier, his sleep has dramatically improved and he’s starting to understand and communicate with us as well as strangers he meets thanks to Harry. We thank everyone involved, every day for giving us Harry,’ says Reilly’s mum, Linda Paterson.

And now it’s time to start fundraising again, this time for 6-year-old Jacob Johnson (pictured) who was diagnosed with High Functioning Autism Spectrum Disorder with Pervasive Developmental Delays (PDD) in May 2007.

“It was a shock for the whole family when Jacob was diagnosed with Autism,” says Jan Johnson, Jacob’s Grandmother. “But we were determined we would do everything possible to help him. So Jacob, his mother Deb Johnson (my daughter), her partner Andrew and my husband Paul Johnson and myself all live in the same house, and all of us are actively involved in helping Jacob secure a well adjusted childhood.

“Jacob is at the higher end of the spectrum with signs of high intelligence and since his diagnosis he has worked with speech therapists and an occupational therapist and now is still working with a physiotherapist. At present he is attending Mt Gravatt State School and is under review by the school’s speech therapist and occupational therapist.

“ASD affects Jacob in a number of areas – limited eye contact, social communication with his peers, meltdowns, obsessions and inability to concentrate and maintain focus on tasks that are outside his obsessions. We know an assistance dog would be very beneficial in many of these areas if specially trained to intervene when necessary to reward, to distract and soothe and to help in conversing with peers, and are therefore grateful that Variety Queensland, Aussie Pooch Mobile and Craig & Tracey Murray are making this possible.”

So mark this date in your diary – your pooch will love you for it and you’ll be helping raising much needed funds for Jacob.

Doggy Fantastic Camping Weekend
Neurum Creek Bush Retreat (Near Woodford 20 mins from Caboolture)
www.ncbr.com.au 1300 733 901
Look at the events page for more info on everything that’s happening over the weekend

Friday 23-25 October
Camping fees apply and day visitors are welcome. Dogs are FREE!

Not only will this fantastic weekend leave your pooch panting for more, with activities ranging from Waggiest Tail to Iron Dog, there are exciting events for the whole family, including wine tasting, music and entertainment, sausage sizzle and face painting.

While the entire event will be fun-filled for both you and your pooch, there is a very important reason behind it.

Get your camping gear out, grab your swag and grab your friends, as the more people who attend means the more money raised for charity.

Contact:

Aussie Pooch Mobile Dog Wash – Event organisers

Jill McCarthy
M: 0411 515 651
E: jmc177@westnet.com.au

Chris Taylor
M: 0411 878 762
E: chris@aussiepm.com.au

Craig A Murray - Specialist Dog Trainers

Craig and Tracey Murray
M: 0400 741 660

Variety Qld

Sam Schumack
Ph: 3368 3321

Neurum Creek Bush Retreat

Just outside Caboolture
(Tracy or John)
Ph 1300 733 901
W: www.ncbr.com.au
Bookings essential