LIONS CLUBS
LIONS CLUBS
Lions Clubs are an integral part of the day-to-day and strategic operations of Lions Assistance Dogs. Lions Clubs across Australia and internationally support our Assistance Dog programs’ day-to-day operations both financially and practically to allow us to succeed.
We encourage the broader community to consider joining their local Lions Club or even getting involved with our very own Lions Club of Australian Hearing Dogs.
LIONS CLUBS SUPPORTING LIONS ASSISTANCE DOGS
Lions Clubs support our Assistance Dog programs in many ways. This can be via donations, sponsorship and in-kind contributions that keep our programs running smoothly. Many Lions Clubs choose to sponsor puppies and name them in honour of members of their club or community, and some Lions Clubs have funded the purchase of equipment including vehicles and more. No matter the size of the gift, we can do so much with it.
Pictured are handmade dog toys, donated for our trainee dogs to enjoy by the Pedare Pride Cubs Club, a specialty club of students run by The Lions Club of City of Adelaide.
LIONS CLUBS PLACEMENT SUPPORT
For over 40 years, we have generously received support from Lions Clubs Australia-wide to assist with post-placement support of each of our Assistance Dogs. Lions Assistance Dogs is the only Assistance Dog provider worldwide that operates on the model and is what we owe much of our successful outcomes for recipients to.
When a trainee Assistance Dog is offered to a recipient and accepted, we make contact with a Lions Club local to that area and ask for their support in following up the placement. Throughout the week-long delivery of the Assistance Dog, members from the Lions Club will attend the recipient’s home, along with the Trainer, and learn how to score the sounds or tasks associated with the dog’s role. Members will visit the home three times a week for three months on average, providing the score sheets back to the Training team regularly for review.
This program is a great success and often results in lifelong friendships between the recipient and members, with many recipients even joining their local Lions Club.
AWARDS AND FELLOWSHIPS
“Blindness cuts us off from things, but deafness cuts us off from people.”
Helen Keller was a 20th-century activist and educator, who achieved a remarkable career championing the Deaf and blind.
Helen Keller Fellowships were introduced by Lions Assistance Dogs as a way for Lions Clubs to recognise a deserving person who has made an outstanding contribution to society. For a donation of $1,000, the plaque is a great way to formally acknowledge such work, all the while contributing some much-needed funds to Lions Assistance Dogs in our journey to train more Hearing Assistance Dogs for people who Deaf or hard of hearing.
Applying for a plaque is simple. Simply download and complete the form, make your donation, and we will send you a personalised plaque within 6 weeks. You can also call us and place an order over the phone.
The plaque, as pictured, is an A4-size brass plate on a bevelled-edge timber backing with wall mountings. We recommend the plaque is hung inside or undercover outside. The images are laser etched onto the plaque with words of your choice. Other logos may be added and each plaque is numbered.
When you apply for a Helen Keller Fellowship, please ensure we have the correct spelling and wording (particularly with telephone orders). Plaques will be dispatched by mail so please allow time for delivery.
OUR VERY OWN LIONS CLUB OF AUSTRALIAN HEARING DOGS
The Lions Club of Australian Hearing Dogs, was formed on the values of support and community, with the simple goal of providing additional support to Australian recipients of Lions Assistance Dogs. This Lions Club was formed by a network of staff, friends and volunteers who knew they could do more.
Many of the recipients of Lions Assistance Dogs come from low-income households and sometimes require additional support to help care for their Assistance Dog in times of emergency. The ongoing costs of supporting the dog can amount to some stress for a recipient in financial hardship, primarily through unexpected or emergency vet and medical care.
Our Lions Club was formed with the simple goal of assisting with emergency costs and providing additional support where possible. When a recipient finds themselves in a time of financial crisis or hardship, not only will Lions Assistance Dogs be there for support but the Lions club will be there for them to assess applications for financial support. This is because we understand how hard it can be sometimes and want to help in any way we can.
As a hybrid Lions Club, members are encouraged from across Australia to join and attend monthly meetings and other activities via video link or in person at our Verdun Training Centre.
By becoming a member, you are donating your time, as much or as little as you can give. We run a variety of projects throughout the year that include creating snuffle mats for dogs, fundraising in our local community at BBQs or other events, and various activities to raise much-needed funds. We are a friendly and collaborative team and are always looking for more members to join our Lions Club.
For more information on joining or to become a valued member of the Lions Club of Australian Hearing Dogs, please email our Club Secretary at club@lionshearingdogs.com.au.
