Earlier this year, Sarah and Matt McGregor were feeling stressed, overwhelmed and in desperate need of some extra support - they just never expected it to come in the form of a black labrador named Tamsin.
The Melbourne-based parents have three children, including 13-year-old Hamish who was born with Down syndrome and global developmental delay.
"I was 13-weeks pregnant when we discovered there was a high chance Hamish would have Down syndrome," Sarah tells Essential Kids. "I'd had two previous miscarriages after the birth of my first child, Charlotte, and our philosophy was, no matter what happens it would be okay. We never considered the alternative."
As soon as Hamish was born, tests confirmed he had Trisomy 21, the most common form of the chromosome disorder. As a result of his condition and subsequent hearing loss also discovered at birth, Hamish struggles with his speech and ability to communicate.
"At times it can be very difficult to understand him so he gets very frustrated", Sarah explains. "And while he is quite outgoing and has come so far attending mainstream and special schools, Hamish also has a lack of insight and social skills as a result of his intellectual disability."
While the McGregors were busy raising their three children in a loving home, juggling demanding careers, and getting weekly therapy sessions for Hamish, they were also beginning to crack under the pressure.
"It's been tough," Sarah admits. "Even though Hamish is in a 13-year-old's body, he's still a little boy in many ways. He needs a firm routine and everything broken down for him. And while we wouldn't change a thing, caring for him has taken its toll on our mental health."
Sarah heard about Companion Dogs through a friend, but Matt was sceptical a dog might be a burden on their already busy lives.
"We tried a puppy when Eliza (my youngest daughter) was three and Hamish was in prep but it was just too much work and too stressful," she explains. "As a parent and carer of a special needs child, the last thing you need is another child to look after and another thing to worry about. No parent needs that."
Companion Dogs are basically puppies who aren't suitable to meet the specific and exceptionally high standards required in successful Guide Dog work, but have many skills and attributes to be therapeutic in in other ways.
According to Paul Metcalf, Guide Dog Manager, they bring ongoing enjoyment to individuals and their families alike. "Companion Dogs are also a fantastic integration method for people with a disability and children in particular," he says.
Fortunately, Guide Dogs match the dog specifically with the needs of the client, along with helping the dog settle into their new home. Hamish and Sarah actually met another dog before they were introduced to Tamsin in early 2019, but she was a little too boisterous for his nature.
"The McGregor family needed a calming presence in the household", explains Metcalf, "so they were matched with Tamsin because she has a beautiful calm personality."
It was, indeed, love at first sight.
"Hamish flung his arms around her and just looked at me and said, 'oh mum, she is perfect'," Sarah says of their initial meeting. "She was just divine from the moment we met her. She was gentle, so relaxed and she just melted our hearts.
"I knew instantly she was going to fit in perfectly. And Matt fell head over heels, too!"
Not only has Tamsin been of significant benefit to Hamish, she's also taken a huge weight off their shoulders as parents, as Hamish is less reliant on their supervision.
She goes for walks with the 13-year-old and his sisters, providing him with much-needed regular exercise, keeps him calm when he gets frustrated, and has proven to be the ultimate stress relief for the entire family.
"When we've had a stressful day, we just come home and have a cuddle with Tamsin," she says. "The stress level of the house has dropped significantly since she arrived."
This year alone, Guide Dogs Victoria have placed seven companion or ambassador dogs that will specifically influence a child's life. Sarah can not thank the association enough and highly recommends a Companion Dog to any family with a special needs child.
"These beautiful dogs have been trained, the hard yards have been done, so you can just enjoy them and watch the incredible way they mould into your family and bring so much happiness, support and love," Sarah gushes.
"Tamsin is more than a pet, she's a family member. And we couldn't adore her any more."
For more information about Companion Dogs please visit Guide Dogs Victoria or the Guide Dogs association in your state