Meet Shadow

What's up dog?

I first got Shadow on the 15th of April 2022. She was a 6 year old, 48kg Border Collie x Labrador, that was about to be put down as she was no longer wanted by her previous owners. At the time I wasn't looking to adopt a new dog as I had just lost my best friend, a 14 year old Border Collie x Kelpie named Rastus.

It was a really difficult time in my life. Rastus had helped me overcome so much loss, including my father and partner. He also helped me cope with anxiety, depression and PTSD from a serious car accident as well as a workplace "initiation" by 4th year apprentices that led to a brain haemorrhage. Rastus and I went camping and fishing together and he encouraged me to begin motivational speaking. He even accompanied me to Toast Masters, where I became more confident with public speaking.

After losing Rastus, I fell back into depression and began staying at home almost all the time. Then came Shadow...

I came across Shadow's photo on a Facebook group after being told by a friend. When I saw her photo, I was immediately reminded of Rastus and knew I just had to meet this dog. When I met her she didn't know how to eat from a bowl, didn't know what a toy was, was timid of other dogs and was suffering from two untreated fly bites on both ears.

Now Shadow has won over 30 ribbons at Dogs in the Park competitions where she loves travelling across NSW, she's lost almost 25kg and is the happiest, most spoilt and sociable dog. She's quickly become my best friend and follows me everywhere, hence the name Shadow. Shadow gives me the confidence to get out and socialise and has even encouraged me to be more active. I now join her in our weekly hydrotherapy sessions at Water Walkies in Port Kembla and we go to Dapto Dog Park every day.

Shadow has helped me live the life I want to live and helped me overcome my PTSD, anxiety and depression when it's been at its worst. Shadow has also given me the confidence to start motivational speaking again to help others in a similar situation to mine, which Shadow also attends, helping participants to relax and open up about their experiences. She's now on the way to becoming a therapy dog to help others like she's helped me and I could not be more proud of how far we've both come.

How is this award decided?