From the USA to Denmark, from Australia to South Africa - the ADI #LifeChangers campaign features inspiring stories of assistance dogs and their partners from around the globe.

Starting on Sunday August 4 and throughout International Assistance Dog Week 2024, assistance dogs teams are the stars of a viral video campaign to celebrate their lives and work.

Among those telling their #LifeChangers stories are armed forces veteran Greg and his PTSD dog Reilly, trained by See Differently in Adelaide, Australia. “Reilly helps me go out and enjoy life a lot more. He’s changed my life right around,” says Greg. “I feel so relaxed!”

“Rey detects my seizures before they occur and guards me when I am having an epileptic attack,” explains Marek, whose seizure alert dog Rey was trained by Helppes in Prague, Czechia. “And then he licks me to wake me up!”

“Every year, these amazing assistance dogs change the lives of tens of thousands of people all over the world,” says ADI’s Executive Director Chris Diefenthaler. “But a global shortage of volunteers, coupled with higher-than ever demand, has a direct impact on the people who need assistance dogs most. You only have to watch these inspiring stories which we hope will prompt more volunteers to come forward."

11-year-old Griffin from Pennsylvania, USA, talks movingly about his mobility dog Jackson. “He turns lights on and off, he picks things up, he even pulls my blankets up. But most importantly he’s my best friend!” Kayla and Trudy from Autism Dog Services in Ontario, Canada are another great young team. “Sometimes we call her Trudy Frutti or Troods Mahoots. She helps me sleep at night and lays across my legs to comfort me. And she’s really good at hide and seek!”

Chris from South Africa says being teamed by mobility service dog Jenson from South Africa Guide Dogs Association has given him independence and confidence. “It’s a psychological thing,” says Chris, who has been a wheelchair user since an accident in his teens. “It’s the companionship, the confidence that he gives me. I go out and I feel like a million dollars.”

These - and many more - #LifeChangers stories are echoed by assistance dog teams all over the world. Martha’s assistance dog Greg was trained by Dogs For Good in the UK to help her live with Cerebral Palsy. “Greg is the cheekiest, the happiest, the silliest, just adorable little guy,” says Martha. “Greg gave me a life, that’s the biggest thing. He didn’t just change my life - he gave me back my life.”

Altogether, more than 40 assistance dog partners from 15 countries agreed to share their #LifeChangers stories on camera. As well as autism, mobility, PTSD, medical detection and mobility dogs, more than 200 ADI member organizations around the world train and place thousands of guide, hearing, facility, therapy and psychological support dogs every year. To find out more search our social media platforms using
#LifeChangers, #InternationalAssistanceDogWeek and #IADW2024.