News

Celebrating 20 Years in Partnership with Boehringer Ingelheim

Our partners mean everything to us here at Guide Dogs Australia, and we’re celebrating 20 years in partnership with Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health Australia!

Our partnership began in 2002, and Boehringer Ingelheim today provide preventative health support to our Guide Dog organisations all across Australia. In the last financial year alone, their in-kind contributions consisted of over 2,350 vaccines and 24,800 doses of parasite protection, including NexGard SPECTRA®, helping maintain the health, wellbeing, and protection of our dog colony.

To celebrate the partnership, we caught up with Client and Guide Dog Handler Karlee alongside her Guide Dog Isla, Michael Cousens who is Head of Companion Animal Business Segment ANZ at Boehringer Ingelheim and our very own Danielle Cotter, Account Manager, Corporate Partnerships at Guide Dogs Australia, to chat about the true impact of the collaboration and the crucial role of Boehringer Ingelheim’s support within our community. 

Speaking with Michael Cousens, Head of Companion Animal Business Segment ANZ, Boehringer Ingelheim, he told us what our partnership means to him and his team and how Boehringer Ingelheim’s purpose of ‘Transforming Lives for Generations’ perfectly aligns with Guide Dogs Australia’s mission to assist people who are blind or have low vision in gaining the freedom and independence to move safely and confidently around their communities. 

‘It is arguably the most meaningful relationship that I’ve been a part of, simply because of the wonderful work Guide dogs do.’ Michael Cousens, Head of Companion Animal Business Segment ANZ, Boehringer Ingelheim.

Karlee recently moved to Sydney and began studying at university, with her Guide Dog Isla at her side. She spoke to us about how important it is to her that Isla is safe and healthy, thanks to NexGard SPECTRA® monthly chews, protecting Isla from nasty parasites and giving Karlee one less thing to worry about as they navigate life together.  

Danielle Cotter explained how having a partner like Boehringer Ingelheim means that our organisation can focus on providing life-changing support to our clients, knowing that our dog colonies are protected, healthy and happy while they support our community. She told us how, year after year, both parties continue to work together to innovate on how best we can support our clients and community.  

Having had twenty years in partnership together, we are extremely grateful for their long-term enduring support. We look forward to many more years of this wonderful partnership. 

Click the link above to watch the full video.