“I hope the people who put all that work into raising and training him can see just what a difference he’s making.”
Shelley, Doorways Program Facilitator
Benji came to Guide Dogs Tasmania at about ten weeks of age and went through our training program. He was a bit too interested in other dogs to make it as a Guide Dog, but the big black Labrador has found his true calling providing comfort and support to Tasmanians doing it tough.
The gentle giant, who weighs in at about 38 kilos, is thriving in his work as a crisis support dog at the Salvation Army Glenorchy City Corps, and is a calming presence for community members who come in for emergency relief and case management.
Benji provides comfort for vulnerable people, helping to ground them and assist with their emotional regulation and a return to more logical thinking when they are in crisis.
“Benji came to us in December very, very well trained; you could tell there was a lot of time invested in him. His social skills, his people skills – he’s just spot on, you can’t fault him at all,” says Doorways program facilitator Shelley Hyland.
“I hope the people who put all that work into raising and training him can see just what a difference he’s making.
“I still can’t believe how blessed we are to have him.”
