AS Guide and Service Dog Awareness Day was marked on April 30, no one understood the importance of the occasion more deeply than Deebing Heights local Dani Stevens.
Her journey with assistance dogs has been both inspiring and deeply personal. Her former service dog, Baloo, was previously featured on Dogs Down Under, recognised for her outstanding service before retiring earlier this year.
Now, Ms Stevens is partnered with Nina, Baloo’s great-niece, and the bond they share is already proving to be life-changing.
“I’ve had Nina just over six months now,” Ms Stevens said.
“We’ve really bonded as a team. She’s doing her most important job, alerting to seizures, and we’re fine-tuning all her training.”
Nina’s dedication is clear – even waking in the middle of the night to alert Ms Stevens of a seizure.
“She’s doing an incredible job for such a young dog and is really thriving in her role,” she said.
“She lives in the moment and finds joy in the simplest things – a squeaky toy, a sunbeam on the floor, a walk around the block. And she loves cuddles. I can’t wait to see what adventures we have together.”
While Ms Stevens is grateful for Nina, saying goodbye to Baloo was bittersweet.
“Baloo has been in her new home since January. I miss her dearly, but she is really enjoying retired life. Her new ‘hooman’ is a psychologist, so she now works as a therapy dog – soaking up cuddles and supporting others in the community. She’s transitioned beautifully, and I visit her regularly.”
Ms Stevens is also passionate about raising awareness around the vital role of assistance dogs and the challenges they face in public.
“We still encounter public access issues and people distracting the dogs while they’re working,” she said.
“For me, if someone distracts Nina, it could mean missing an alert – and that could lead to serious injury.”
With 200 dogs estimated to be trained and placed by Guide Dogs Australia each year and Assistance Dogs Australia supporting over 1400 people annually, Ms Stevens’ message to the community is simple but powerful.
“Respect the vest. If you see a vested dog, remember – no talk, no touch, no eye contact.”
As Guide and Service Dog Awareness Day was marked across the country, Ms Stevens hoped her story would help educate the public and shine a light on the extraordinary work these dogs do – one paw at a time.
