“The bond we have grows stronger day by day. I knew we were about to get an amazing dog but Clover is so much more. She is a companion who loves to be by my side and has ‘saved my bacon’ by alerting me to changes in my BGL.” — Ray
Ray’s life has always been driven by creativity and connection. During his working life, he was a photographer specialising in special effects, capturing moments and bringing ideas to life through images.
Around eight years ago, Ray was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. Living in a bushland setting in Victoria with his partner Karena, Ray has learned to manage the challenges that come with diabetes — but life became significantly easier when Clover, his Diabetic Alert Dog, entered his world.
Before Clover arrived, Ray relied on blood tests and a continuous glucose monitor (CGM) to track his blood glucose levels. While these tools are valuable, they are not always convenient or completely accurate.
Now, Ray has another trusted source of support — Clover’s incredible sense of smell.
“Clover’s nose ‘knows’ even when she’s in another room. She will come from another room in the house to alert me.”
Ray has learned to trust Clover’s alerts, with her sometimes detecting changes in his blood glucose levels even before his CGM does.
For Ray, each morning begins with a reminder that he is never alone.
“The day usually begins with her waggy tail and liquid eyes at the end of the bed.”
Clover’s happy face is often the first thing Ray sees when he wakes, bringing joy and positivity to the start of each day. She checks in on Ray and makes sure everyone is ready for the day ahead.
For Clover, mornings include her favourite routines — a walk for toileting and a tendon chew to keep her teeth healthy. Some days, they all head to their local fenced oval, where Clover enjoys an energetic run with her doggy friends.
Ray and Karena love watching the dogs play together, running and tumbling while Karena attempts to capture the moments on camera.
Clover’s role in Ray’s life goes far beyond alerting him to changes in his blood glucose levels.
Living with diabetes can be challenging, and Ray describes how Clover helps him focus on the positives.
“Clover distracts me from smaller problems because Diabetes can really get you down.”
Through their daily routines, Clover encourages Ray to get outside, stay active, and engage more with the world around him.
“Clover gets us out of the house and in doing that we are in more contact with community.”
For Ray, there have been countless moments where he and Clover have worked together as a team.
One night at around 1am, Ray woke to find Clover urgently alerting him. She had detected that his blood glucose level was unexpectedly high.
Thanks to Clover’s quick response, Ray was able to administer insulin, and once she knew he was safe, Clover settled and they all returned to bed with minimal disruption. It was another, often daily, example of the life-saving partnership they have developed.
Over time, Ray has developed an incredible level of trust in Clover.
“I’ve now learnt to trust Clover more than the CGM.”
There have been occasions when the CGM has sounded an alarm, but Clover has not alerted. In those moments, Ray knows something may be wrong with the device and completes a finger-prick test to confirm his levels.
Clover has proven to be a reliable and accurate partner, alerting Ray when his CGM is incorrect or not working properly.
Their communication is built on trust — Clover understands her role, and Ray understands the messages she is sharing.
Clover has also helped Ray and Karena connect more with the people around them.
Whether walking down the street or shopping at the supermarket, Clover brings smiles and creates opportunities for conversation.
People are often curious about Assistance Dogs and amazed when they learn how Clover can alert Ray to changes in his blood glucose levels.
“She helps people understand what Assistance Dogs can do and the incredible difference they make.”
For Ray, “Better Together” perfectly describes his relationship with Clover.
“We are a wonderful team. Over the last 16 months we have grown together. She’s my little four-legged friend.”
Their partnership has continued to strengthen with every experience they share. What began as the arrival of an Assistance Dog has become something much deeper — a friendship built on companionship, trust, and unconditional support.
The most surprising part of having Clover has been discovering just how meaningful their partnership would become.
“I knew we were about to get an amazing dog but Clover is so much more. We knew Clover would be amazing, not just a dog.”
Clover is a companion who wants to be by Ray’s side and a dedicated partner who has “saved my bacon” by alerting him to changes in his blood glucose levels.
Whether her alerts are gentle or more forceful, or sometimes even vocal, Ray knows they always come with purpose and care.
Ray wants people to understand that an Assistance Dog is much more than a service animal.
“An Assistance Dog is not just a ‘tap and go’, they are with you for the whole journey.”
An Assistance Dog is not simply a dog that performs tasks — they are part of an extraordinary partnership that grows stronger every day.
For Ray and Clover, life is better together.
Thank you to Ray, Karena, and Clover for sharing their inspiring journey with us.