Assistance Dogs NSW in Maitland bought the Australian labradoodle with the help of the East Maitland Lions Club.

He is just eight weeks old and a very friendly puppy.

He will go into a carer’s home until he is named, and then he will be specially trained for a local person in need of assistance.

“It was really important to our club to do this,” East Maitland Lions Club former president Kathy Barkley said.

“When you hear the stories and see the pictures and the kids that assistance dogs help it is just so special.”

The club raised $3000 towards the puppy, on the condition he would go to someone local.

The puppies are chosen based on a special personality test to make sure they have the right nature to be an assistance dog.

They help a variety of people including diabetics, people who suffer from seizures, paraplegic and quadriplegic, cerebral palsy and more.

It takes about $30,000 a year to prepare one dog and several hundred hours of intense obedience training.

Maitland training director Carmel Kaczmar encouraged residents to enter the naming competition, which will also raise money for the work of Assistance Dogs NSW.

The competition is open until December 6. To enter fill in the coupon in Wednesday's edition of the Mercury and send it to PO Box 2393, Green Hills 2323.

Participants are encouraged to include a $5 donation to the organisation and all entries will go into the draw to win a prize.

For more information contact info@adnsw.org.au