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In Queensland, Northern Australia, a dog care programme is making waves thanks to its owner, dog trainer Jo Mcvily. This is all because this animal lover cares deeply about her fellow humans as well as her pet canine charges, as Motorbiscuit reports.
This abundance of compassion has meant that Mcvilly’s company, IronBark DogPark has become much more than a facility to help pet parents take care of their pooches. It is a place for pets to play but it also works to give mentally and physically disabled locals, as well as at-risk youth a career headstart. The program has now gone viral on TikTok thanks to its focus on assisting people of all abilities.
A Vision of Bringing People and Paws Together
This caring woman’s vision is one that involves creating safe, healing spaces for people and pets.
Mcvilly works to help people with mental health challenges such as neurodiversity and other limiting disabilities feel more connected, supported, and also find real purpose.
“We’re creating a space where everyone, regardless of their abilities, can thrive and build a future in animal care,” enthuses Mcvilly, who modestly points out to Motorbiscuit that the pooches remain an important piece of the puzzle.
Through IronBark DogPark’s Encompass Wellbeing initiative, Mcvilly and her team are working to empower helpers with disabilities through delivering tailored, kind support. Counsellors on hand as well as the healing presence of animals enable participants to flourish, the website outlines.
Mcvilly’s vision relies on building partnerships to help boost her business’s compassionate community goals involving tailored mental health and disability programs. This is because, like other small business owners with a changemaking calling, Mcvilly understands that forging strong bonds with sympathetic entrepreneurs and individual donors is crucial.
On a donation page on the company’s website, this pioneering dog trainer explains her vision like this: “Our mission is to empower individuals and their caregivers by offering tailored, compassionate support for mental health and disabilities. We bring together skilled professionals and the healing presence of horses and dogs to help people achieve their personal goals.”
Offering a Nurturing Environment for Humans and Pooches
Mcvilly’s vision wouldn't be realized as well if she didn’t place a strong emphasis on creating an unforgettable play experience for the canine charges.
She tells ABC News Australia that “The dogs know what day it is — they’re already hassling their owners at 5 and 6 in the morning.”
The 63 dogs on her weekly roster feature a real mix of dogs. Among them are working dogs, older dogs, and what they refer to as “naughty teenagers!”
Dogs love the attention, but simultaneously, their human handlers are also forging new careers, making some new friends, and getting away from computer screens. This is not something to be sniffed at in a rural community such as Mcvilly’s. And this success has been viewed by three million people and counting on social media to date.
For over a decade, Mcvilly has offered job opportunities to young people. For Amber, a young participant with an acquired brain injury limiting her mobility, working with smaller dogs is something that is manageable and fulfilling. Of her work with IronBark DogPark, she says “Coming here calms me down and makes me feel relaxed.” Her father shares that the regular outings help the family enjoy some respite from the difficulties they face, particularly the loneliness that can come with disability.
Some participants have gone on to work at Mcvilly’s enterprise. Sage Conway-Keogh is a hearing-impaired staff member, now training to be a dog groomer. For her, working with the team is her dream job: “I've always loved animals, and now I get to work with them every day,” she shares.
Mcvilly explains that her efforts to include vulnerable youngsters is a win-win for them and their canine charges too: “My aim obviously with the dogs is to find their happy place, but the result is, it allows the humans to find their happy place as well.”
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