“Having reliable help from community work at our last Triple Championship Agility Show was just great,” says Jenny D’Arcy, vice-president of the South Canterbury Dog Show.
In November 2008 the Timaru Service Centre helped the Dog Training Club. Senior Community Work Supervisor Mary Livingston heard a friend talk about the show and immediately thought it would be a good opportunity for community work.
“The president thought it was a brilliant idea and welcomed the help of two offenders at the November Triple Championship Agility Show,” says Mary. “I selected two offenders who I thought were reliable and punctual. One owns a dog, the other is doing a course in outdoor recreation so that fitted quite well too.”
“The South Canterbury Dog Training Club holds five championships a year. Around 55 dogs of all breeds run at each event,” says Jenny. “Agility is a growing sport in which the dogs jump over a series of obstacles and run through tunnels. The handlers run alongside them.
“The two people doing community work helped ensure the day ran smoothly. They maintained the course and completed many tasks behind the scenes. We are grateful to Corrections for their assistance.”
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ISSN 1178-1327