For seven years Woogie the $20,000 trained assistance dog has been a lifeline for Michael (not his real name), a 14-year-old autism sufferer. But now they are preparing to say goodbye forever.
After collapsing at home in Hamilton eight weeks ago, Woogie - who began life trapped in a cage in Kentucky in the United States - has been diagnosed with an untreatable cancer and at best may only have another four to six months to live.
Michael, whose autism has improved dramatically since he and Woogie (a Golden Retriever/Poodle cross) got together, is devastated at the news, according to his mother Sue Evans. He now faces a future without his best friend.
"Woogie is only nine and could have expected to live up to 16. All we can do now is hope for a little more time with her. We are planning to make the rest of her life the best of her life and give back to her for all the love and support she has given my son," she says.
Evans says Woogie is a cherished family member who is caring and compassionate to all she meets, often sensing anxiety and sadness. "We don't see her as a pet or 'the dog' - she is the rock in the crazy world we live in, our angel in fur."
Michael and Woogie's story came to light during a promotion run by Gem and The Hits radio station offering the chance to turn people's plans into reality.
Evans is one of three winners in the promotion which she entered after paying over $10,000 for medical bills incurred for Woogie's treatment. Her winnings will help cover most of these costs.
Evans says Woogie was the best thing she could have done for her son: "He was seven when we got her and at the time Michael was suffering from sensory overload which meant it was difficult to take him out anywhere. He always had to have someone with him, even when going to school.
"Woogie is an autism assistance dog and was especially trained to distract Michael whenever he was having a meltdown or showing anxiety.
"Now he goes to school without assistance and even his friends don't know he has autism. They all want to talk to him because he is the one with the fluffy dog, they all like Woogie and that has bridged the gap for Michael.
"She has been his best friend and confidant.
"It was so unexpected," says Evans. "I came home one day and she didn't meet me like usual. She'd collapsed in the bedroom, I took her to the vet and it was a week before we discovered what was wrong."
Woogie came to New Zealand eight years ago with her two siblings, Maddie and Dexter, after Evans had seen a programme on television about an autistic boy in the United States who had a dog for assistance.
After doing research, she and two friends, also with autistic children, raised $60,000 to have the dogs trained and brought to New Zealand. They came from 4 Paws for Ability, an organisation based in Ohio who provide and train service dogs for children with disabilities.
How Woogie herself came to the notice of the 4 Paws group is itself a heart-rending story. Part of a litter of eight pups, Woogie was discovered imprisoned in a cage at a property in Kentucky. Of the eight dogs, five died from malnourishment and the three survivors all ended up in New Zealand.
Evans says Woogie has been diagnosed with hemangiosarcoma, a tumour that attacks the blood vessels, most commonly in middle-aged or older dogs. Because symptons don't show until the disease is very advanced, a complete cure is unlikely.
"We have been told she may only have four to six months left," says Evans. "We are praying and doing all we can, we've got her on a raw food diet and pampering and loving her as much as we can."
The 'Got a Plan - Now You Can' promotion Evans won was a partnership with The Hits in Auckland to promote Gem's personal loans.
Gem's marketing and product director Caroline Rainsford says winning the competition will never take away from the tragedy of the situation. "But this story really touched our hearts and we wanted to reach out and help make a difficult time a little easier."
Gem created the competition to show its support of Kiwi's achieving their unique future plans.
Gem has been operating in sales finance, credit cards, personal loans and consumer credit insurance in New Zealand for over 20 years (historically as GE Finance & Insurance). Gem Personal Loans are provided by Latitude Financial Services Limited.
Kiwis are in with a chance to win money to put towards their future plans in a competition being partnered by NZME and Gem, the personal loans provider.
The 'Got a Plan - Now You Can' promotion is being run through ZM - and there is still time to enter visit here to enter your plan.
Watch one of the winners below.