Scarlett is one of the dogs under the charity’s guidance. Charity chief executive Pete Gifford, who has trained dogs for about 35 years, said the purpose-built breeding and training centre was a first for New Zealand. Other organisations tended to work through foster homes. The charity has just received public access certification from the Department of Internal Affairs for dogs it trained to be classed as disability assistance animals, meaning they can be taken anywhere. They might help people who were diabetic, had epilepsy or anxiety, and be trained to pick up certain signs. Gifford said the training centre would help meet a need – similar organisations had a five-year waiting lists for people wanting animal assistants.