We are not only business partners but also best friends and dedicated mothers to a tribe of children from diverse backgrounds. Our children include biological, internationally adopted, and local foster kids, many of whom have experienced trauma. Our extensive experience in dealing with their special needs, both visible and invisible, has led us on a remarkable journey together.

In 2015, my daughter Emily (Maree) passed away. In 2016, we established Emily’s Hope (visit emilyshope.com.au), an organisation dedicated to creating an inclusive world for people with special needs in honour of Emily. Throughout our lives we have shared our homes with various breeds of dogs, including Labradors, Huskies, Aussie Bulldogs, Beagles, and more.

We were initially drawn to the Australian Cobberdog breed because we were seeking a dog that would suit the diverse needs of our families. With 12 out of our combined 17 children having special needs, we needed a dog that could sit quietly with our more fragile children and yet keep up with the energy of our kids with Autism and ADHD. We also learned about the Cobberdog’s ability to recognise an impending seizure, which was an added bonus. It was a tall order, but our foundation dogs have exceeded all expectations!