About North East Assistance and Therapy Dogs
We are passionate about enhancing every aspect of people's lives, whether by positively impacting a child's educational experience, amplifying a therapeutic intervention or magnifying connection and relationship for an older person - all through the support of our therapy dogs.
With a firm belief in the positive impact animals have on human health and well-being, our mission is to bring smiles, joy, comfort, peace, engagement and connection wherever our dogs go. We are committed to excellence and compassion in every aspect of our work, striving to empower and support every person we work with in achieving their goals.
NEAT Dogs is dedicated to promoting an inclusive, supportive, trauma-informed and safe environment for all of our service-users.
With a firm belief in the positive impact animals have on human health and well-being, our mission is to bring smiles, joy, comfort, peace, engagement and connection wherever our dogs go. We are committed to excellence and compassion in every aspect of our work, striving to empower and support every person we work with in achieving their goals.
NEAT Dogs is dedicated to promoting an inclusive, supportive, trauma-informed and safe environment for all of our service-users.
ABOUT OUR NORTHUMBERLAND TEAM
Kay - Senior Trainer
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Uniquely for a therapy dog handler, Kay is also a qualified Guide Dog Mobility Instructor and a Registered Assistance Dog Trainer and Government Registered Assistance Dog Public Access Test Assessor.
She has worked all around the world training assistance and therapy dogs, regularly holding skill-development workshops for assistance dog trainers and was the founder of Western Australian Assistance and Therapy Dogs Inc, a successful charity which is still going strong to this day. |
Chris - Operations Manager
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Chris undertakes all of those amazingly important but very tedious behind-the-scenes things that our trainers hate doing, so that they can concentrate on delivering the very best service to you.
Chris will be able to answer all of your logistical and technical questions when it comes to working with NEAT Dogs, the services we provide, and how to make and manage your bookings. He also manages all of our finances, so if you have a query regarding invoicing, Chris is the guy you need to speak to. Give him a ring to chat about how we may be able to help you ... in fact, just call him anyway as he gets a bit lonely stuck in the office all day! |
Tom - Training Assistant
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Tom has recently come on board at NEAT Dogs as our training assistant having previously worked with Kay at WA Assistance and Therapy Dogs. A natural and empathetic animal handler, Tom has been around dogs all his life and regularly has up to 10 dogs living with him at home while they are working on their behavioural issues.
Tom is an assistance dog owner and owner-trained his own dog to registration standard. He was diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder when he was just 7 years old and has worked extensively with therapists and psychologists ever since. This gives him first-hand experience of the stresses that schools and educational establishments can bring to neuro-divergent students and enables him to create an understanding and empathetic approach when working with our clients. Tom provides training support at our group classes and workshops. He also regularly accompanies Kay and other trainers when visiting clients and organisations and handles our training dogs who come along to learn the ropes. |
Angus
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Name: Angus
Breed: Golden Retriever Age: 8 years old Angus is dual-qualified as he is a Registered Assistance Dog as well as a therapy dog. Angus was our first working education-support therapy dog and he brings joy and comfort to everyone he works with. With his calming presence and 'wise-old man' energy, he helps reduce anxiety and brings stability and safety, especially when working with children with emotional disregulation. On his days off, Angus loves swimming in the sea and walking in his local woods where he can often be found rolling in big piles of Autumn leaves - the wetter and smellier the better!! |
Henry
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Name: Henry
Breed: Chocolate Labrador Age: 3 years old Henry has worked as an assistance dog previously but now works for us on our literacy and numeracy programmes. On his days off Henry can be seen chilling by the fire, chewing anything he can get his paws on and occasionally chasing squirrels. |
Hafnar
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Name: Hafnar / Haf ("Haff")
Breed: Golden Retriever x Black Labrador Age: 4 months old Haf is currently being trained as an Assistance Dog prospect. This gorgeous little man (pictured here at 6 weeks old) has a beautiful soul and is surprisingly peaceful and calm for such a young pup. Haf will be working across all of our programmes and will be accompanying Angus and Henry during their work while he learns the ropes. Every day is a fun day for Haf. He is loving our play-based training programmes and likes nothing more than to show off his skills, so just ask his handler to show you his latest tricks! |