Ashburton Courier: March 11, 2021

www.ashburtoncourier.co.nz
NEWS
Ashburton Courier, March 11, 2021
5
Assistance dogs training here
MICK.JENSEN
@ashburtoncourier.co.nz
Fournew canines in town ­
Jojo, Jack, Huiand Wiggles ­
areassistance dogs in training
andkeen to explore our
community.
The dogsare in town
because their trainingcoordinatorAshleighMurrayhas
just relocated here to be with
herpartner, who has started a
job on afarmatWakanui.
Once they have completed
six months of training the dogs
willgotoNew Zealanders
living withadisability.
Aucklander Ashleigh is abig
dog lover and worksfor the
Assistance Dogs NewZealand
Trust and formerlyworked
withguide dogs forthe blind.
Shetrains the dogsand takes
them outfor trips into the
community during the week to
expose them to people and
different environmentsand
situations.
In the eveningsand at
weekendsthe dogs are borders
at fourhomes in Allenton.
Dogs are picked up at 7.30am
during the weekand generally
returned by 4pm.
Ashleigh said hundreds of
people had answered the call
for border homes placed on
the AshburtonNoticeboard
Facebook pageand the
matches made were working
out very well.
Each dog has been to puppy
schooland assessed to
evaluate temperamentand
suitability, shesaid.
They are aged between 18
months and two years and are
either labradorsorlabrador/
retriever crosses.
The dogs are gentle and
tolerant andcustom training
further develops their skills.
Some95per centofclients
for the dogs arechildrenwho
sufferfrom conditions like
Assistance Dogs New Zealand Trust dog training co­ordinator Ashleigh Murray with Jack (left) and
Hui.
autism,cerebral palsy, MS,
epilepsy, diabetesormultiple
disorders, Ashleigh said.
Aconnector line between
theclient and thedog actsas
an anchor for those with
autism.For sensoryoverload,
thedogsare trainedindeep
pressure therapy and lie
against achild to calm them
down.
Assistance dogsalsohelp
improve fineand grossmotor
skills in clients. The dogs have
the same legal publicaccess
rights as guidedogs.
Ashleigh is keen to be
invitedinto local schools with
the dogs in trainingand hopes
to attend assembliesand other
school events to get them used
to people.
Ofthe fourdogs in training,
Wiggles has done the most and
in aroundsix weekstime will
graduate.
Methven talk about earthquake hazards
AlpineFault scientist TomWilson, of
University of Canterbury, willbein
Methven later this month as part of
roadshow to talk about thelikely hazard
impacts of an Alpine Fault 8.0 earthquake
intheregionand how residents can be
prepared.
The freeevent,atthe Mt Hutt Memorial
Hall, inMethven on March 29, is organised
by The Science Beneath Our Feet and
covers areas in the SouthIsland most
likely to be affectedbyanAF8
earthquake.
‘‘While we can’t predict when
earthquakes will occur, scientific
research has shown thatthe Alpine Fault
has ahistory of generating regular, large
earthquakes.
He will be paired with a
suitable client and another
dog will take his place on the
intensive trainingprogramme.
Itcosts$75,000toraise and
train an assistance dogand
there arecurrently 43
graduated dogs working with
clients.
More informationcan be
found at the
assistancedogstrust.org.nz
website.
‘‘The nextevent is likely to occurwithin
the lifetime of most of us,orour children
and youngpeople, for whom thisis likely
to have major short and long­term
impacts.’’
The public talk,which will only go
ahead at AlertLevel 1, and starts at 7pm.
People can register toattendthe
roadshow at the website af8.org.nz
IN BRIEF
ZONTA BREAKFAST
Anew dateofMay 1has beenset
for the annual international
women’s day breakfast organised
by Zonta Ashburton. The guest
speakerisDame Marilyn Waring, a
publicpolicyscholar, international
development consultant, former
politician, environmentalist and
feminist. Thebreakfast will be held
at the Hotel Ashburton, starting
8.30am and was originally
scheduledfor March 6. Afew tickets
are still available from Zonta
members.
CREDIT RATING
An independent creditratinghas
assessed AshburtonDistrict
Councilasbeinginavery strong
financial position.Fitch Rating
Serviceshas forthe second year
giventhe CouncilanAA+ rating.
Itisthe rating indicates that the
council is in avery strongpositionto
meets it debtcommitments in the
future. Therating will ensure council
can continuetosecure lower
interest rates whenborrowing from
lenders.
TRIBUTE SHOW
ANeil Diamond tribute tour is
coming to Ashburtoninearly June.
The Sweet CarolineTourwill
feature the songsofthe
consummate Americansingersongwriter
whosedeep,resounding
voiceand timelesstunes have
madehim oneofthe world’smost
lovedand lauded artists.
Thetribute showatthe Ashburton
Trust EventCentreonJune 3will
feature classics such as Sweet
Caroline, Cherry Cherry, Red Red
Wine, Song SungBlue,Both Sides
Now, You Don’tBringMeFlowers,
Heartlight and Forever In Blue
Jeans.Tickets are availablefrom
the boxoffice or venue’swebsite.
VANDALISMCOST
Vandalismatthe publictoilets in
Ashburton Domainhavecost
ratepayers$38,000 so far this
financial year. Forthe period July
2020toJanuary 2021vandalism
costs totalled $48,000, against a
budgetof$17,000. Council is now in
the process of tryingtorecoveras
muchofthe costs back as it can
through its insurance,but no claims
processedhaveyet to be paid out.
Covidhas alsoimpacted the cost
of cleaning of thepublic
conveniences, withextrawork
neededtobecarriedout. Costsfor
the seven monthperiod total
$71,194, against afull year budget
of $32,500.
28-32 MooreSt, Ashburton l Phone 03 550 7000
2364175