Apart from an initial escape attempt at her new home, Lilly quickly settled into a much kinder domestic routine and then handled a flight across the Tasman to become an Aussie dog when Lisa returned to Australia.
Lilly has been Lisa’s constant companion now for more than 10 years, the last seven as Lisa’s assistance animal.

Lilly has provided Lisa with a reason to be and do, as she herself battles some of life’s unkind events. Life events and trauma caught up with Lisa in 2017 when she was forced to give up work, hang up her ambulance boots and face the challenges of PTSD and several health challenges caused from her service as a paramedic, Air Force Reserve Officer and deployment to Timor many years ago.

There are obvious daily responsibilities and tasks supporting Lilly, that require human input and attention. These considerations take us out of our own situation to care for another life. Lisa has been no exception and is energised by choosing good food for Lilly, caring for specific health requirements, meeting her need for exercise, and socialising Lilly with other dogs. Lilly’s presence in Lisa’s home over many years has created that delightful demand and given rise to something much more meaningful.

Lilly helped to boost Lisa’s creativity in many ways and Lisa realised that Lilly’s presence while out in the world, resulted in a greater sense of personal wellbeing. The journey to have Lilly recognised as an assistance dog began in 2017. Lisa realised that the challenges of daily living were alleviated if Lilly was able to be with her. Their journey together has had a substantial flow on. Lilly faithfully provided the purpose and impetus for Lisa to use all of her knowledge, skills and lived experience to create Assistance Paws and then Assistance Animals International.

Lilly’s cuteness and gentle loving nature is also an attraction for others and a bridge to forging and maintaining relationships – that helps Lisa to engage socially in her local community and get out and about.
Together Lilly and Lisa now support approximately 120 other disabled community members with their own assistance animals – veterans, first responders and many others – across Australia and around the world.
Lilly’s support for Lisa has enabled her to use her skills and abilities to become an advocate, educator and speaker in support of her community, including supporting Lisa to return to further study, speaking at conferences, and living a healthier life.

Lisa’s efforts have been recognised with a Lord Mayor’s Australia Day award in 2024, something Lisa would never have attained without the critical support Lilly provides.

Lilly has become the poster dog of the Assistance Paws Program – the face and fur of unconditional love, not just for Lisa but for the many others who have walked beside them them past several years.