Melbourne Central Dog Teams

Kerrie and 'Brenda' help children at Elsternwick Primary School

About:   Kerrie was a primary school teacher, her great loves are books, dogs and children
Sponsor: Story Dogs is looking for a sponsor

Dog breed: Pug

Great loves: Food, me and walking

Favourite Food:  Everything especially cheese

Quirks:  One eye, female that cocks her leg

Fiona, 'Murphy' and 'Nelly' help children at Glenferrie Primary School.

New photo coming to show both dogs

About: Fiona works in admin at Lauriston Girls School in Armadale. She loves sport

Dog Sponsor: Generously funded through a gift from Niamh

Dog breed:  Golden retriever

How we met:   I have had dogs all my life

Great loves:  'Murphy'' soft toys and balls; 'Nelly' lots of cuddles

Favourite foods:  'Murphy' Schmackos; 'Nelly' a sneaky twistie or pizza crust

Quirks:   'Murphy' likes to roll over whilst walking in the park and protest at leaving; 'Nelly' loves to chat, she talks when it's breakfast and dinner time, time for a walk or just when she wants a cuddle

Elisa and 'Mack' help children at McKinnon Primary School

About:  Currently studying a Bachelor of Psychological Science (Honours), Lifeline Telephone Crisis Support Worker, mother of 3 children
Sponsor:  Story Dogs is looking for a sponsor
Dog breed:  Great Dane
How we met:  We bought 'Mack' from a breeder when he was 9 weeks old
Great loves:  Playing with children, eating chicken, cuddles on the lounge, long walks
Favourite foods:  Chicken

Doesn't Like:  People laying on his back or his family leaving without him
Quirks:  Loves to sleep on his back, thinks he is a small dog and can sit on your lap

Jenni and 'Lachie' help children at Elsternwick Primary School

About: Jenni has recently retired as a Hospital Executive

Sponsor: Brighton Toyota

Dog breed: Cairn Terrier Cross

How we met: Adopted from Lost Dogs Home at 18 months of age

Great loves: Tennis balls

Favourite foods:   Treats and a bone

Quirks: Loves to talk (chat) to you

John and 'Mori' help children at Elwood Primary  School.

About:   John is retired. He enjoys meditation.
Sponsor:  Generously funded through a gift from the Harold Mitchell Foundation
Dog breed:  Briard
How we met:  Purchased as a puppy
Great loves:  People, children and tug toys
Favourite foods:  Liver treats
Doesn’t like:  Being separated from his owners and being left outside  

Barbara and 'Harry' help children at Brighton Primary School.

About: Barbara is a Minister of Religion, she loves reading and writing
Sponsor: Generously funded through a gift from Puppy Tales Photography
Dog breed: Spaniel Border Collie Cross
How we met: Rescued from the lost dogs home
Great loves: Walks, cuddles and the couch
Favourite foods: Anything, especially chicken  

Willem and 'Honey' help children at Elwood Primary School.

About: Willem is a Cellist and Orchestra Conductor and also enjoys Italian motorcycles 
Sponsor: Story Dogs is looking for a sponsor
Dog breed:  Japanese Spitz
How we met:  Internet
Great loves:  Cuddles
Favourite foods:  Lamb and pork bones
Doesn’t like:  Sudden loud noises

Janet and 'Winston' help children in Melbourne Central area

About:  Janet is a retired GP
Sponsor:  Story Dogs is looking for a sponsor
Dog breed:  Golden Retriever
How we met: Family pet
Great loves:  Going for walks, being with family and friends

Favourite Food: Most things

Doesn't Like: Thunder
Quirks:  He is a Golden retriever who doesn't retrieve

Vivienne and 'Jaxon' help children at  Elsternwick  Primary School

About:  Vivienne is a Professional Volunteer, she enjoys yoga, travel, learning languages, family
Sponsor:  Story Dogs is looking for a sponsor
Dog breed:  Labradoodle
How we met: 'Jaxon' is my sones dogs
Great loves:  Squeaky balls, goat horns and our socks, shoes etc

Favourite Food: Everything

Doesn't Like: Loud noises and being left alone

Quirks:  Doesn't like when a suitcase comes out

Jyl and 'Sonny' help children at Yeshivah Beth Rivkah School

About:  Jyl is a retired Computer Analyst, Project Manager
Sponsor:  Sponsor details coming soon
Dog breed:  Cavoodle
How we met: Bought for my husband when he was suffering from MND, and I inherited him
Great loves:  Socks, treats, sleeping next to me in bed

Favourite Food: Chicken

Doesn't Like: Large barking dogs

Quirks:  Very protective ex Therapy Dog, loves people more than dogs

Anat and 'Cookie' help children at Yeshivah Beth Rivkah School

About: Anat has a background in Accounts, she loves children, dogs and reading
Sponsor:  Toorak Road Veterinary Clinic
Dog breed:  Beaglier
How we met:  In our home since 3 months old
Great loves:  Treats
Favourite foods:  Chicken snacks
Doesn’t like:  Vegetarian treats

Miriam and 'Messi' help children at Yeshivah Beth Rivkah School

About: Miriam is involved with Social Work and her family
Sponsor:  Wonder Words Speech Pathology
Dog breed:  Cobberdog
How we met:  Bought for the children
Great loves:  People
Favourite foods:  Most food

Sue and 'Daizie' help children at St Kilda Library

About: Sue is a Bookkeeper, involved in Dog School
Sponsor:  Nunn Media
Dog breed:  Mini Schnauzer
How we met:  Adopted as a puppy
Great loves:  People, running in park
Favourite foods:  Treats and chicken
Doesn’t like: Vacuum cleaners
Quirks:  Loves to choose who she gives cuddles to

Nora and 'Tara' help children at Brighton Primary School

About: Nora loves dogs and children. She loves helping others and volunteers at multiple organisations
Sponsor:  Generously funded through a gift from the Rotary Club of Brighton North
Dog breed:  Mini Groodle
How we met:  Asked by my vet to volunteer 'Tara'
Great loves:  Treats, other dogs, people
Favourite foods:  Chicken
Doesn’t like:  Baths
Quirks:  Rubbing her face in the towel after a bath. Sleeps on my feet so I can't go anywhere

Barbara and 'Bonnie' help children at Brighton Primary School

About: Barbara is retired
Sponsor:  Generously funded through a gift from Brighton Primary School
Dog breed:  Labrador
How we met:  Since a puppy
Great loves:  Ball, park and the beach

Bernadette and 'Ralphie' help children at St Finbar's Primary School, East Brighton

About: Bernadette is a Wellbeing Manager at St Kilda FC, Educator and Yoga Teacher
Sponsor:  Middle Brighton Veterinary Centre
Dog breed:  Labrador
How we met:  Twin Brother and myself gained brothers as puppies
Great loves:  People, activity, being out in the community and soft toys
Favourite foods:  Meat, sardines, chicken necks
Doesn’t like:  Nothing
Quirks:  Loves doing tricks and playing on playground equipment

Ann-Maree and 'Ralphie' help children at Elwood Primary School

About:  Ann-Maree is a very involved grandparent and avid reader
Sponsor:  Story Dogs is looking for a sponsor
Dog breed:  Cavoodle
How we met: Love of dogs and cats, great companions
Great loves:  Everything

Favourite Food: Cheese and chicken

Doesn't Like: Baths

Quirks:  Tail wags like a helicopter blade

Alison and 'Memphis' help children at St Finbar's Primary School

About: Alison is a mother and former flight attendant
Sponsor:  Generously funded through a gift from Vicky T
Dog breed:  Labrador/Golden retriever
How we met:  'Memphis' was adopted from Vision Australia - he was a former seeing eye dog puppy 
Great loves:  Food, balls, cuddles
Favourite foods:  Meat 
Quirks: Runs up to other dogs

Michelle and 'Boomer' help children at St James Catholic Primary School Brighton

About:  She is a mum of 3, often enjoying a coffee and playing tennis
Sponsor:  Story Dogs is looking for a sponsor
Dog breed:  Golden Retriever
How we met:  Always grown up with dogs, they are an important part of our family
Great loves:  Playing, eating, cuddles and swimming
Favourite foods:  Anything apart from their dry food

Doesn't Like: Bananas
Quirks:  Sneaks onto the bed when the family is asleep

Dionne and 'Bella'  help children at St Finbar's Primary School

About: Dionne works at IBM as an Executive Partner. She loves beach walks and coffees
Sponsor:  Generously funded through a gift from Geoff
Dog breed:  Labrador
How we met:  Wait listed at breeder for 2 years. Family has had Labs over many years
Great loves:  Beach walks, park, plays and food
Favourite foods:  Anything
Doesn’t like: Very loud noises; surprising her 

Petra and 'Boris'  help children at Brighton Primary School

About: Petra is an International Project Manager, originally from The Netherlands. Has lived in Melbourne since 2009
Sponsor:  Middle Brighton Veterinary Centre
Dog breed:  Cavoodle
How we met: We got 'Boris' as a puppy and fell in love with him straight away 
Great loves:  Chasing balls and relaxing in the garden
Favourite foods:  Dry food and carrots
Doesn’t like:  Yelling at him; his little sister {sometimes} who likes to play the whole day
Quirks:  

Penny and 'Lotti' help children in Melbourne Central area

About:  Penny is a writer and animator
Sponsor:  Bayford Volkswagen Camberwell
Dog breed:  Beagalier
How we met: 'Lotti' is our younger dog who we bought to keep our older dog company
Great loves:  Walking, swimming and eating

Favourite Food: Everything

Doesn't Like:  Dalmation dogs

Quirks:  Barks at Dalmation dogs and other black and white spotted dogs

Jacqueline and 'Willow' help children at St Finbar's Primary School

About:  Jacqueline is a veterinary surgeon of 25 years
Sponsor:  Generously funded through a gift from Vicky T
Dog breed:  Groodle
How we met:  Jacqueline has always had dogs and 'Willow' came into their lives as a true blessing and part of her family 
Great loves: Peoples, cuddles, puppy playtime and mud

Favourite Foods: Anything! - except lettuce

Doesn't Like: Our kittens when they steal attention from her

Quirks:  If there is a puddle (of any size), better still if it is muddy, she will be sure to roll her whole body in it.

Fiona and 'Bonza' help children in Melbourne Central area

About:  Fiona enjoys walking her dogs and photography
Sponsor:  Generously funded by an anonymous sponsor
Dog breed:  Spoodle
How we met: Digger, my other dog, needed a waggy tail companion
Great loves:  Walks and chips

Favourite Food: Watermelon and fish treats

Doesn't Like: Nothing

Quirks:  Grooms my other dog's (Digger) teeth and ears every morning

Megan and 'Polly' help children at South Melbourne Park Primary School

About:  Megan is a Retired Language Teacher and University Teacher. She enjoys good wine, travel and animals.
Sponsor:  Generously funded through a gift from the Rotary Club of Port Phillip
Dog breed:  Poodle Cross
How we met: Adopted from a shelter where she had been surrendered by a dubious breeder
Great loves:  Running free, soft toys, chicken, cheese, me

Favourite Food: Home cooked chicken and vegetables

Doesn't Like: Surrendering stolen balls

Quirks:  Hardly ever barks, makes happy noises

Lisa and 'Maurie' help children at McKinnon Primary School

About:  Lisa is retired, she loves singing, music and socialising with family and friends
Sponsor:  Story Dogs is looking for a sponsor
Dog breed:  Mini Schnauzer
How we met: Lost our previous schnauzer before Covid and we definitely needed another
Great loves:  Food, playing with his balls with another toy in his mouth

Favourite Food: Anything

Doesn't Like: Being left alone too long; cats

Quirks:  Howls at sirens; steals objects around the house

Katherine and 'Molly' help children at Lloyd Street Primary School

About:  Katherine is a Radiation Therapist. She loves travel, my garden and learning to play Bridge
Sponsor:  Generously funded through a gift from the Harold Mitchell Foundation
Dog breed:  Labradoodle
How we met: I wouldn't be without her, we found each other
Great loves:  Squeaky toys, tennis balls, swimming

Favourite Food: Anything I eat

Doesn't Like:  When I iron (thankfully that does not happen very often)

Quirks:  Her looks - nobody guesses she's a Labradoodle