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Lions Assistance Dogs

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Australia
Verdun, SA
Lions Assistance Dogs

Lions Assistance Dogs provides highly trained Assistance Dogs Australia-wide free of charge.

Each Hearing Assistance Dog costs ALHD upwards of $37,000 to train, deliver and support, and is gifted free of charge, to its deaf or hard of hearing new owner. One in six Australians has some form of hearing loss, with this number expected to rise to one in four by 2050. Severe or profound hearing loss currently affects close to 400,000 people. Whilst hearing loss impacts all ages, the numbers ar

e greater in older Australians. The impact of hearing loss varies for each individual and Australian Lions Hearing Dogs works with each recipient to create a solution that fits them. Many people who wear hearing aids or use assistive technology are unable to depend on these aids in difficult circumstances or after they go to bed. A Hearing Assistance Dog is often a welcome aid for many who suffer from hearing loss or deafness as it provides the companionship they crave in a socially isolated environment, and the safety and security from common dangers around the home. Hearing Assistance Dogs not only increase the quality of day-to-day living, they also help alleviate many of the conditions often associated with deafness and hard of hearing, these being depression, anxiety and communication withdrawal. As reported through a recent Federal Government Senate Inquiry into hearing, these conditions have been shown to contribute to cognitive decline and potentially increase by a factor of five, the likelihood of developing dementia. It’s not just the recipients themselves whose lives are enhanced by their Hearing Assistance Dog, there are also many reported benefits for family, friends and community.

06/08/2025

The Paws for Access report published by Assistance Dogs International has highlighted the ongoing challenges Assistance Dog handlers face globally when it comes to exercising their legal right to access public spaces. Despite laws in place across Australia and many other countries protecting these rights, discrimination is still occurring at an alarming rate.

Here’s what the report found:
🚫 43% of Assistance Dog handlers globally were refused access to a public place in the last 12 months.
📊 In Australia, the figure is even higher—58% of handlers experienced public access refusal within the past year.
😟 40% of survey participants said they had considered avoiding public areas due to previous negative experiences.
🚕 56% reported access issues when using transport options such as taxis, rideshare services like Uber and Lyft, and even public transport.
🐾 65% of respondents had experienced interference from untrained or fake Assistance Dogs including biting, lunging, or snapping, which can create anxiety, danger, and further barriers for legitimate Assistance Dog teams.

These numbers highlight just how much more awareness and education is needed in the community—especially among business owners and frontline staff. Access refusal not only breaks the law but also limits independence, safety, and quality of life for people living with disability. 🧡

05/08/2025

🎓Say hello to our latest Puppy Pre-School graduates!🎓

Over the last four weeks, these enthusiastic pups have been busy learning the foundations that will help them grow into confident and capable Assistance Dogs.

Coming from different litters and breeders, this was one of our most diverse Puppy Pre-School groups yet! Orlando – a beautiful Lagotto from Glenstar NZ & Glenstarz AU , Toby and Incus from Nicnak Labradoodles, Kimba from Guardian Bonnie, Morgan from Guardian Coco and Ayla and Zoe from Rusty Amber Labradoodles. Each pup bringing their own personality and charm to the classroom!💙

Our clever pups worked on basic obedience skills like sit, drop, stay, leave-it, give, recall, and loose lead walking. They also practiced staying focused on their handler around distractions (which can be tricky especially with so many new friends nearby!)

At the end of each week, the puppies had mini group play sessions to let off some steam—and they all played beautifully together. 🐾

Thank you to our wonderful puppy carers for giving these pups the best possible start. We’re excited to see what comes next for these young learners!

Congratulations again to Orlando, Toby, Incus, Kimba, Morgan, Ayla and Zoe! 👏

04/08/2025

This week is International Assistance Dog Week—a time to recognise the incredible impact Assistance Dogs have in supporting people living with disabilities and medical conditions, and the organisations that train and place them. It’s also a chance to raise awareness of the rights these dogs and their handlers are entitled to in public spaces. 🧡

‘An Assistance Dog is a dog that is specifically trained to perform tasks that mitigate the effects of a disability, including guiding, alerting, medical response, mobility support and psychiatric assistance.’ – Assistance Dogs International

Each of our dogs must pass a Public Access Test before they are delivered with a trainer, again three months after placement with their recipient, and then every two years to maintain their Public Access Rights. 🐾

There are two key places that an Assistance Dog does not have access to: a commercial kitchen where food is being prepared for sale, and any part of a hospital where the public is required to gown and glove, such as a burns unit or ICU. Some zoos in Australia now allow Assistance Dogs, depending on their policies and quarantine rules.

We are a proud member of Assistance Dogs International and have been for 13 years. To maintain this accreditation, each of our dogs must perform at least three specific tasks to a high standard and be reassessed every two years.

Not all Assistance Dogs look the same—they come in all different shapes and sizes. Historically, we sourced our dogs from rescues and pounds. Today, we primarily use Labradoodles, Border Terriers and Tenterfield Terriers.

These breeds offer different coats, sizes, and energy levels, giving us a diverse base of dogs suited to a wide range of disabilities, many of which are invisible. 🐶

01/08/2025

Today we celebrate a major milestone, the 20th anniversary of our CEO David at Lions Assistance Dogs. 🎉

David began his journey in 2005 as Kennel Manager before moving into a Trainer role in 2006. In 2014, he became an Assessor, and in 2016, he was appointed Chief Executive Officer.

The first dog he trained was Milo, a Labrador x Spaniel ( #439), who was placed in Modbury North, SA, on the 15th of October 2007 — a placement proudly supported by the Tea Tree Gully Lions Club.

Over the past two decades, he has overseen the development of major new programs, including our Medical Assistance and Psychiatric Assistance Dog programs, and has led the redevelopment of our training centre — which, once complete, will establish Lions Assistance Dogs as the largest provider of Assistance Dogs in the Southern Hemisphere.

David’s commitment to the Lions community is equally notable. He joined the Mount Barker Lions Club in 2015 and then became the Charter President of the Lions Club of Australian Hearing Dogs in 2019. He has served in multiple leadership positions across the club and Lions Australia, including Club President, Secretary, Zone Chairperson, District Governor, and Council Chair. He currently holds the title of PCC (Past Council Chairperson) David Horne.

David and his wife Mel are also proud guardian carer’s of two beautiful Border Terriers, Nova and Aria along with their Husky Loki. They also raised ‘Frodo’ as part of the Lions Assistance Dog’s Puppy Program who is now a fully accredited Hearing Assistance Dog living in the Northern Territory.

We are proud to celebrate David’s 20-year anniversary and congratulate him on his ongoing service and leadership to the organisation. He is now the fifth staff member to reach this milestone. His contribution has shaped the organisation we are today — and continues to guide our future.

Congratulations David! 🧡

29/07/2025

It’s official! Molly and her recipient are now a fully accredited Assistance Dog team. 🧡

Last week, Molly passed her Public Access Test and Task Assessment with flying colours, officially becoming a fully accredited Psychiatric Assistance Dog.

Molly began her training as a Hearing Assistance Dog, but Molly's calm, intuitive nature made her the perfect candidate for our Psychiatric Assistance Dog Program. She was also one of the first dogs to take part in our Bed and Breakfast program, which helped shape her into the remarkable dog she is today thanks to her wonderful puppy carers.

A heartfelt thank you to everyone who supported Molly along the way, this life-changing milestone wouldn’t have happened without you. 🐾

28/07/2025

Last week saw the placement of Assistance Dog 'Woody'! 🧡

Woody is the final pup from guardian Krinkl’s first litter, marking a 100% success rate for her Border Terrier pups entering life-changing roles as Assistance Dogs. 👏

Woody will support his recipient by alerting them to essential household sounds like the doorbell, door knock, oven timer and smoke alarm. As well as providing daily companionship and confidence in public spaces.

Woody was proudly sponsored by Kay, whose generous support helped make this journey possible. We hope she enjoyed following Woody’s progress every step of the way. 🐾

We’re also incredibly grateful to Bronte, who raised Woody through our Puppy Program. Bronte’s care, commitment, and training gave Woody the best start, helping him grow into the capable and confident Assistance Dog he is today. 💙

25/07/2025

Did you know, every two years, Lions Assistance Dogs assessors conduct a formal assessment for each active accredited dog in our program? These visits are part of our commitment to ensuring ongoing quality and professionalism in the delivery of our services. 🧡

As a member of Assistance Dogs International (ADI), we are required to maintain high training and behavioural standards. Each Assistance Dog must reliably perform a minimum of three trained tasks that directly mitigate the effects of their recipient’s disability or condition. They must also remain calm, confident, and well-mannered in public environments.

Our Program Director, Darren, completes both a Task Assessment in the home and a Public Access Test (PAT) every two years. Dogs are rated for their task performance and taken into public settings to verify they continue to demonstrate appropriate behaviour and composure. 🐾

Accredited Assistance Dogs in our program have the same legal access rights as all other qualified Assistance Dogs in Australia. They are allowed to accompany their recipient anywhere the public can go, with only a few specific exclusions:

🍽️ Commercial kitchens where food is prepared for sale
🏥 Medical environments requiring full protective clothing (e.g. ICU, burns units)

These rights are protected under Federal Law via the Disability Discrimination Act 1992 (DDA 1992).
👉 To read the legislation, please visit: https://www.legislation.gov.au/C2004A04426/latest/text

Pictured is Assistance Dog 'Sunny' and her recipient who recently completed their 2-year follow up Public Access Test, congratulations to you both! 👏

21/07/2025

Another week, another Assistance Dog begins their journey! 🐾

Last week we farewelled Sherbet as she officially took on her role as a Hearing Assistance Dog, starting a new chapter with her recipient. 🧡

Sherbet will support her recipient by alerting them to important household sounds—like the doorbell, oven timer, and smoke alarm—and offering daily reassurance and independence out in public.

Sherbet was proudly sponsored by the Lions Club of Beachport-Rivoli Bay, who supported her journey from day one. We’re incredibly grateful for their generosity and hope they’ve loved watching Sherbet grow from a tiny pup into the incredible Assistance Dog she is today. 🦁

A huge thank you also goes to Trish, Sherbet’s dedicated foster carer. Through her love, patience, and guidance, Trish gave Sherbet the very best start on her journey—and helped shape her into the confident, capable dog she is now. 💙

To everyone who’s been part of Sherbet’s story—thank you. We hope you’ve enjoyed following her journey as much as we’ve loved being a part of it!

18/07/2025

Say hello to our newest recruit, Jojo! 🧡

Believe it or not, Jojo is a Labradoodle—and the final pup from Maddie’s second litter to begin her Assistance Dog training journey. She’s settled in beautifully and we’re excited to see how she progresses.

Jojo was proudly sponsored by the Catherine McAuley Society, and we’re incredibly grateful for their support. Thanks to their generosity, Jojo is now on her way to becoming a life-changing companion. We’re excited to share her journey with them as she progresses through the program. 🐾

We’d also like to give a huge thank you to Jackie and Andre, who cared for Jojo for the majority of her time in the Puppy Program, and to Lenara and Daniel, who supported her in the final stages. Together, they’ve played a vital role in raising Jojo into the beautiful, confident dog she is today. We’re so appreciative of their time, patience, and love—and we look forward to keeping them updated as Jojo continues to shine in training 💙

If you’d like to raise a future Assistance Dog like Jojo, visit https://lionshearingdogs.com.au/puppy-socialisation/ or call 08 8388 7836 to learn more.

17/07/2025

It’s been a little while since we welcomed a new trainee—so we’re thrilled to introduce our latest Assistance Dog in training! Say hello to 'Taz'! 🐾

Taz is a Tenterfield Terrier from Gumhaven Kennels who has recently made the big move into full-time training at our National Training Centre. Taz has already settled in beautifully with our team and is taking each new challenge in his stride. We’re so excited to watch him develop over the coming months as he learns the important skills required to become a life-changing Assistance Dog.

We’d like thank the Lions Club of Lake Cathie Bonny Hills for their sponsorship of Taz. Their support has helped give him the best possible start to this next phase of his journey, and we hope they enjoy receiving regular updates on his progress throughout training. 🧡

We also want to acknowledge and thank Gordon and Jacqui, who raised Taz through our Puppy Program. Their time, care, and dedication have given Taz a strong foundation to build on—thank you both for everything you’ve done 💙

If you’d like to raise the next future Assistance Dog like Taz, please complete the expression of interest form at https://lionshearingdogs.com.au/puppy-socialisation/ or contact us on 08 8388 7836.

16/07/2025

Our new sign is up! 🐾

We’re so excited to unveil the updated sign at our National Training Centre, now proudly reflecting our new name — Lions Assistance Dogs.

Big thanks to Andrew from Signs Unlimited for helping us make it happen, we think it looks pretty great! 🧡

Pictured are some staff members and trainee Assistance Dogs. We couldn't resist getting a quick photo in front of it!

Address

793 Mount Barker Road
Verdun, SA
5245

Opening Hours

Monday	8:30am - 4:30pm
Tuesday	8:30am - 4:30pm
Wednesday	8:30am - 4:30pm
Thursday	8:30am - 4:30pm
Friday	8:30am - 4:30pm

Website

https://lionsassistancedogs.com.au/

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