Eukanuba Canine Heroes Competition

Service Category Merit Award Winner

Whilst this is supposed to be a single dog competition, we would like to submit our “inseparable team” for an award as they always work together.

Let us introduce you to “Tawnee and Jax” They are Golden Retrievers currently aged 10 & 9 years and have effectively been working as “Canine Friends Pet Therapy Inc” members for 9 years in September this year. Tawnee started as a therapy dog at age 7 months and Jax from a puppy at 10 weeks.

Some background on their chosen names:

“Tawnee” is an Irish name (meaning – sand the colour of a lions coat) having been born on St Patrick’s Day and her mothers name started with T (Tia).

(Kennel name – Sanastasia Rose of Tawnee)

“Jax” is also of Irish origin and has the same start letter as our father (Jordan).

(Kennel name – Salhouse Sunray)

We are half brother and sister.

So what of the work we do. We first started visiting the Home of Compassion in Silverstream but relocated to the Summerset Rest Home in Trentham, Upper Hutt. We are here simply to be appreciated/patted/loved by residents whom we visit as they often cannot have pets of their own. We are considered part of the furniture.

We visit them every weekend each year, including holidays, unless viruses close the home or our mum and dad are on holiday. We visit residents even when they are in hospital, and we pay our respects at their funerals when they depart us. We understand the meaning of life’s end, and we join in that sorrow.

We have also visited other locations and promote our work wherever we go because we have our names on the number plate of our car.

We support the Special Children’s Xmas party each year, Bunnings Community days and also the Lifeflight Trust Open Day.

We are more than happy to take our furriness wherever requested.

Paul & Sue Alcock