Kathy and Vero’s story

Assistance Dogs Australia’s newest service dog, Vero, has been making paw prints on the hearts of those in the Winston Hills community. But the deepest mark he’s made, in on the heart of his new recipient Kathy Walden.

While his amazing coat and stunning eyes help him attract lots of new friends, he is so much more than a pretty face to Kathy.

For Kathy, Vero represents freedom and independence, helping her with tasks that people in a wheelchair find difficult to achieve – tasks such as opening and closing doors, answering the telephone, retrieving dropped objects, helping her on public transport and even getting bottles of water from the fridge.

“We’re bonding really well, he’s doing all his tasks spectacularly, he’s going really well,” said Kathy.