Yogi’s Law

Ms Wilson said the case signalled assistance dogs would become more readily accepted in WorkCover claims.

“It should be heartening for people who may have had rejections and thinking they couldn’t do anything about it to now know it can be challenged and should be challenged,” she said.

A WorkSafe spokesman said in a statement it would meet annual accreditation costs for a trained psychiatric assistance dog.

“Requests for support for trained psychiatric assistance dogs are assessed individually by WorkSafe’s clinical panel,” the spokesman said.

Assistance Dogs Australia’s Richard Lord, who runs one of the few accredited suppliers of PTSD dogs in the country, said Mr Fenton’s win was a step in the right direction.

“More and more people are going to see how these dogs are helping people who are injured and traumatised through the work they do and there will be more support for the organisations supplying these dogs,” Mr Lord said.

With the win for Yogi under his belt and his first grandchild being born, Mr Fenton says he has a lot to live for, even if his cancer diagnosis gets in the way.

“No one is getting out of this game alive. We’ve all got to die of something, at least I’ve got some sort of ability to prepare,” he says.

And if the black dog comes, he has the chocolate one dropping a slobbery tennis ball at his feet.

“When I’m down, he brings a tennis ball and says, ‘come on Dad, play’, until I give in and get outside, get fresh air and change my mindset.”