SMART PUPS – CHANGING LIVES, ONE PAW AT A TIME
Craig Harley, IGT / Everi National Director and Smart Pups Board Member, proudly said:
“Beyond raising much-needed funds and creating significant national awareness, one of the things I am most proud of is the incredible support that Smart Pups Assistance Dogs receives from across Australia’s hospitality industry.
Clubs, hotels, casinos, licensed monitoring operators (LMOs), gaming manufacturers, breweries, liquor companies and many other industry professionals have joined forces to support this wonderful cause.
One fantastic example is the Brisbane Broncos Leagues Club, which has generously sponsored three Smart Pups.
CEO Tom Streater facilitated competitions among club members to name their sponsored pups, resulting in three very special names that celebrate Brisbane Broncos rugby league legends:
🐾 Smart Pup Kevvie – named in honour of Kevin Walters.
🐾 Smart Pup Dozer – named in honour of Ben Hunt.
🐾 Smart Pup Reyno – named in honour of Adam Reynolds.
Smart Pup Kevvie was named in honour of Australian rugby league legend and current Australian World Cup Kangaroos coach, Kevin Walters.
Kevin shared how amazing it was to have a Smart Pup named after him. He also spoke about the incredible work these highly trained assistance dogs do to support not only the child, but the entire family. The difference they make to families’ lives is truly remarkable.
I’m incredibly proud to be involved with Smart Pups and the life-changing work this wonderful organisation does for special needs Australian children and their families.
The letter below from Margaret’s mother truly captures the impact of a Smart Pup Assistance Dog:
“Before Kevvie, the world was heavy for Margaret.
Every outing took planning, every transition took courage, and every day asked more of her body and mind than it should have. Fatigue, pain, anxiety, and overwhelm were constant companions.
As parents, we did everything we could, but there were moments when love alone wasn’t enough to give her the independence, confidence, and safety she deserved.
Then Smart Pup Kevvie arrived…
From the beginning, he understood her in a way that can’t be taught or explained. He is her calm in the chaos, her anchor in unfamiliar places, and her reassurance when her body or the world feels too much.
With Kevvie by her side, Margaret has been able to access spaces that once felt impossible – hospitals, public transport, performances, playgrounds, and everyday community life.
Kevvie doesn’t just provide practical support. He gives Margaret something far more powerful, confidence. The confidence to try. The confidence to go. The confidence to simply be a child again.
We see it in the way she sits taller, the way she smiles more freely, and the way she trusts that she is not facing things alone.
Kevvie has given her independence without pressure, safety without restrictions, and companionship without judgement.
Smart Pups didn’t just match Margaret with an assistance dog. They gave our family hope, freedom, and a future that feels brighter and more possible than it ever did before.
Kevvie is not just life-changing. He is life-giving. We will be forever grateful.”
Fiona (mum) xx
Before too long, these little gorgeous guys will grow into highly trained assistance Smart Pups, just like Kevvie.
https://www.instagram.com/reel/Dek0xmoCPIM/?exln=aDl3aW01amNmYWFk
Stories like Margaret and Kevvie’s remind us why this work matters. If you’d like to help another child experience this kind of support, you can donate HERE: https://lnkd.in/gfwqk4H7
