From protecting our hooded plovers and helping solve crimes, through to supporting people who have a hidden disability, South Australia has an impressive line-up of hard-working dogs.
Day in and day out, they go about their jobs, leaving their paw print at the heart of the communities they work in. Meet four of these four-legged heroes.
Nessie (pictured above)
Nessie spends her days protecting Australia’s most threatened beach nesting birds, hooded plovers, from European foxes.
Trained by Conservation Dogs SA, Nessie works with Green Adelaide and the Hills and Fleurieu Landscape Board, tracking down foxes and their dens along the Adelaide and Fleurieu coastlines.
Detecting and managing fox dens disrupts the animal’s pattern of behaviour, such as targeting hooded plover nests, greatly improving the chick’s chance of survival.
Green Adelaide Coast and Seas Team Leader Tony Flaherty said Nessie could find a fox den in minutes.
“At another site, where no dens had been found by human search, Nessie was able to find a well-concealed den in just eight minutes,” Mr Flaherty said.
Decked out in a hi-vis vest when on the job, Nessie’s incredible sense of smell has also been trained to find the burrows of the pygmy blue tongue lizard – another threatened species in need of protection.
Elmo (pictured right)
Elmo works at Adelaide Airport as a Facility Dog – a special type of assistance dog trained to visit people and places with a handler - providing comfort to anxious passengers.
A graduate of Guide Dogs SA/NT, Elmo’s role is part of the Hidden Disabilities Program which aims to encourage inclusivity, acceptance and understanding of people with “non-visible” conditions such as autism, dementia, anxiety, and hearing and vision impairments.
Elmo offers a comforting presence for passengers who might be ‘nervous flyers’, reducing stress and making their airport experience more enjoyable.
Wearing his yellow jacket and bandana, Elmo works weekdays from 9am to 5pm, and his day-to-day job can range from a calming walk through the airport to a quiet meet and greet.
Elmo’s presence provides a sense of comfort in the busy airport, helping to make the travel experience less stressful.
PD Jax (pictured left)
This crime-fighting champion helps to protect our communities by tracking down criminals and supporting search and rescue operations.
Trained as a General Purpose Police Dog, PD Jax leaves no obstacle unturned when thrown on the scent of an offender.
He has a pretty impressive strike rate, helping to track down 138 people from 960 deployments.
When called upon he can also seek out objects, such as clothing or bags, and has so far collected 63 items worth more than $10,000.
Thanks to PD Jax’s training, heightened sense of smell and determination, 357 offences have been cleared.
Iris (pictured right)
Wirreanda Secondary School is fortunate to have Iris around to lend a paw to those students who need a little extra support.
Iris is an internationally qualified Facility Dog at Guide Dogs SA/NT who supports students at the Morphett Vale school.
Iris is professionally trained to help students with their emotional and social development, physical wellbeing and learning enhancement by making the environment less confronting and encouraging students to relax, focus on their work and improve connections between students and staff.
Her calming presence encourages students to attend class and helps to lower their anxiety when they feel overwhelmed with their schoolwork.
One of the tasks that Iris has mastered is “deep pressure therapy”, where she leans on a student, resting her chin on them, which helps the student to relax and improve their emotional state.
