Ruby and Gavin

“Having an Assistance Dog has increased the quality of our family's life. Gavin helps us smile and laugh even when life can be hard. He makes us feel special and lucky” - Jasmine, Ruby's mum

Six-year-old Ruby lives in the Bay of Plenty with her parents and three siblings. Ruby is cheeky, social, and loves being the centre of attention. She enjoys listening to music and being bounced around the room. She laughs often - especially when her siblings get up to mischief.

But Ruby’s life is far from easy. She suffered a traumatic brain injury at birth and needs support with every aspect of her life. She is non-verbal, non-mobile, and lives with a severe visual impairment.

Her mum, Jasmine, says, “She is the strongest and bravest person I know and has been through more in her six years of life than most people I have met”.

Ruby needs daily therapy and regular visits from specialists to keep her healthy. In recent years, she has been very unwell, vomiting daily - often triggered by being upset - leading to frequent chest infections. On top of this, Ruby has seizures, often brought on by loud noises – an enormous challenge to manage in a busy home with three other children.

Jasmine says, “I often feel like our family misses out on lots of experiences that other families get to do – like going on holiday or even a simple trip to the beach in summer”.

Knowing how challenging Ruby’s life would be, Jasmine put her on the waitlist for an Assistance Dog when she was just six months old. "I was grieving and needed something to look forward to. I wanted Ruby to have every single thing that might give her joy and add to the quality of her life.”

After five long years of waiting, Ruby’s match arrived in February this year - a handsome brindle-coloured Labrador–Golden Retriever mix named Gavin. “We were very excited when we found out there was a match for Ruby… I did feel nervous about the extra workload Gavin might bring, but it’s been totally worth it.”

From the moment Gavin bounced into their home, life began to change. Ruby now has a constant companion who brings her comfort and joy. When she becomes upset, Gavin gently rests his chin on her lap to help calm her. He’s even learning to do this during Ruby’s seizures, reassuring her that she's not alone until a caregiver can be by her side - bringing enormous comfort and relief to her parents as well. When Ruby drops toys or objects from her wheelchair, Gavin is there to pick them up and return them, giving her precious moments of independence.

At night, Ruby - who struggles with sleep and always wants company - now has Gavin by her side, every single night, providing her comfort and giving her parents the chance to rest too.

The difference Gavin has made goes far beyond practical help. Out in the community, Ruby loves the extra attention she receives from people when Gavin walks alongside her. 

With Gavin by her side, he becomes a bridge to social connection and moments of engagement, which Ruby loves.  At home, she's even learning to play a special game of fetch with Gavin, using a ramp to roll the ball down - bringing her a new way to have fun and connect with her best friend.

“Ruby loves how excited Gavin gets around her and the other kids, and she always smiles when he comes to give her hand a lick or nuzzle,” Jasmine says. "Having an Assistance Dog has increased the quality of our family’s life. Gavin helps us smile and laugh even when life can be hard. He makes us feel special and lucky. Everyone in our family loves him so much.”

Looking ahead, Jasmine says, “I’m hopeful that Gavin will go to school with Ruby one day. I’d like her to have him by her side as much as possible.”

To the people who make these dogs possible, Jasmine says, “Thank you so much for the time, effort and money you’ve put in. Gavin is a best friend to everyone in our family - he helps us stay positive and be grateful. We feel so lucky to have him in our lives.”

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