Kim knows better than most what it means to have a Mobility Dog by her side.
When she was 27, a fall in the bathroom led to a diagnosis that would change her life. Kim was found to have mitochondrial disease — a condition that affects the body’s ability to produce energy, and which has gradually impacted her nerves and mobility. In April 2017, she was partnered with Cooper at Mobility Dogs camp — and life shifted.
Cooper was trained for the specific demands of Kim’s life: opening doors, acting as a brace if she fell, and providing the kind of steady presence that no piece of equipment can replicate. Back then, Kim described his impact in her own words:
“He offers me uncompromising companionship. He also gives me independence — it’s a relief to my family and friends to know that if something did happen, I’ve got him there. And he just seems to know when I need a little cheer up. He makes me feel less alone.”
Cooper became part of the family — and part of who Kim was. When he passed away, he left a gap that anyone who has loved a dog will understand. And for Kim, whose daily independence had been woven around him for years, that loss was profound.
When the time came for Sunny
Kim’s world has changed significantly since those early days with Cooper. Her mitochondrial disease has progressed, and she now lives with deafness — supported by a cochlear implant — and uses a powerchair. The tasks she needs from a dog today look quite different to what she needed back then.
Matching a succession dog to a client whose needs have evolved is one of the most careful, considered things we do. It’s not simply about finding a good dog — it’s about finding the right dog for who that person is now, and the life they’re living today.
And so we’d like to introduce Sunny.
Sunny’s journey with Mobility Dogs began with an extraordinary act of generosity. Zeta Zhang, a Lead Maternity Carer Midwife based in East Auckland, and her family made the difficult decision to entrust Sunny to our programme — letting go of a much-loved dog because they believed he had more to give. It’s the kind of kindness that is quietly profound, and we don’t take it lightly.
When Sunny joined us, he underwent temperament testing and immediately impressed us with his calm nature, confidence, and willingness to work. It was clear he had received a wonderful start in life — one that gave him every foundation a Mobility Dog in training needs to succeed.
Just over six months later, Sunny was placed as a fully qualified service dog and partnered with Kim. And there’s one small detail that tells you everything about how this new chapter feels: a squeaky toy that came with Cooper all those years ago has been passed on to Sunny — and it’s already one of his favourites. A small thing, perhaps. But also a beautiful thread of continuity between one chapter and the next.
Kim has decided to give Sunny a new spelling too. She calls him Sunny — because from here on in, she’s decided, there will only be sunny days.
It’s early days, and there is plenty of getting-to-know-you still ahead. But the bond between a person and their Mobility Dog has a way of becoming something quite extraordinary — and this one is already off to a beautiful start.
From all of us at Mobility Dogs, and on behalf of Kim — thank you, Zeta and family, for believing in Sunny’s potential and giving him the opportunity to fulfil it. Your decision set in motion a chain of events that has connected two families and will be felt for many years to come. 🐾
We’ll bring you a full update on Kim and Sunny — how he’s settling in, what his role looks like, and what this new chapter means for Kim — in an upcoming issue. Watch this space. 🐾
If you’d like to know more about Kim and Cooper you’ll find it here!