Helpers on four paws – assistance dogs

A truly helpful institution is the VITA association, which trains assistance dogs for people with physical disabilities. The registered association VITA e. V. was founded in 2000 by the social pedagogue Tatjana Kreidler. It is a non-profit association that provides assistance dogs to physically disabled children and adults. As the first association in Europe, it was certified ten years ago with the Assistance Dogs Europe seal of quality. I consider that an extremely remarkable achievement. The selection of the puppies, the socialisation, the positive and dog-appropriate training as well as the right matching are important steps. The so-called matching ensures that the right selection is made. The bringing together, in which the human-dog team learns how to interact with each other, is a long and cost-intensive process.

Dogs with special training

The VITA e. V. association has a training centre where human and dog have time to approach each other in peace. There, people learn what they have to do so that the bond and the relationship steadily strengthen, or how they can teach their companion new things. The dogs spend their time as puppies with a sponsor family. This is followed by the basic training lasting twelve to eighteen months, as well as the later specialised training, which is tailored individually to the team partner.

In the end it will amount to around 25,000 euros. The parents' share is 7,500 euros, plus the further costs for the period thereafter. Unfortunately, the costs are not covered by the health insurance fund. VITA e. V. is, as already mentioned, a non-profit association that finances itself exclusively through sponsorships, donations and sponsors.

• Training of highly specialised assistance dogs
• Fostering the bond between human and dog
• Financing through civic engagement and donations
• Long-term aftercare of the teams by the association

Important assistance for the people

The assistance dogs give the patients more security. They take on many tasks that make everyday life easier and provide independence from the help of other people. They take off items of clothing and fetch desired things such as money, keys and other objects. They press the lift button, which is often mounted too high for a person in a wheelchair, even lift the legs into bed and do much more.

The connection to VITA lasts for a whole dog's life. At least once a year, an aftercare session is carried out. As dogs, children and illnesses too change, new challenges often arise that need to be solved. If a hospital stay is necessary, the dogs can be accommodated at VITA. So an assistance dog is not only a practical helper, a loyal partner, an icebreaker and a mediator. It is, rather, medicine on four paws.