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The Guide Dogs for the Blind Association
The Guide Dogs for the Blind Association was something I was aware of even as a child. I would see blind people walking the busy London streets and would marvel at how a dog could help a person navigate the crowded city. As an adult I wanted to find out more about these amazing animals and the vital work they did and became an avid supporter of the association.
As I grew my love for dogs never changed but my family did. With four children and a full time job I was never able to have a dog of my own, So with a house full of cats and kids I decided to volunteer for a charity that matched local volunteers with people who were struggling to walk their furry friend due to illness or disability. Over the years I would walk many a dog, from feisty Scotties to daring Dachshunds all as lovely and individual as the next until one day I was matched with a young Labrador named Rory who changed everything...
I had never thought a dog could fail their training to be a guide dog until I met Rory and from our first walk I could see why! This bundle of energy and mischief was a handful to say the least. He had the mind of a puppy, the strength of ten men and an obsession with food like I had never seen. As the months passed Rory grew to love our weekly walks.
He knew that when he was with me he was free to run and play as for the rest of the time Rory lived with the blind person he had originally been placed with and her new blind dog Dax. As the years rolled by I got to know this unlikely family very well and was privileged to see inside the world of a blind person and their dogs. I learnt that the life of a guide dog was not as easy as I had imagined as a child.
These amazing animals shoulder a huge responsibility and are very much working dogs. Where Rory would run across fields with complete freedom, Dax would struggle to step outside of his working life, often looking to the humans around him for what to do next, never fully able to stop working. I could see that these amazing animals paid a price for the service they gave but without them the lives of their owners would be greatly affected.
So how do you balance the two?
And it is this very balance that I believe the association does so well. They recognise the sacrifice of their dogs and make sure their working life is not too long allowing them to retire to a new home once their careers are over where they are allowed to become dogs again, living out a happy and well earned retirement.
The scope of what the Guide Dogs for the blind association does is almost too great to put into words. They balance the needs of human and canine perfectly, giving both sets of needs equal weight and importance. Their work within the blind community is not just inspiring but vital. I am so blessed in my life that I feel I should give something back to those less fortunate and this is why I choose to support this wonderful charity with 10% of all sales being donated directly to the foundation.
The Guide Dogs for the Blind Association
The Guide Dogs story started in 1931 with two amazing British pioneers, Muriel Crooke and Rosamund Bond. These remarkable women organised the training of the first four British guide dogs from a humble lock up garage in Wallasey, Merseyside.
We’ve come a very long way since those early days. Today Guide Dogs is the world's largest breeder and trainer of working dogs. And thanks to our dedicated staff and volunteers – and vital donations – 36,000 lives have been transformed through a guide dog partnership since 1931.
The Guide Dogs fo the blind Association relies on donations to continue its life-changing work. These are some of the amazing things the association will do with your generous donations.
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They Breed and train guide dogs to to become life-changing guide dogs at their dedicated training centers.
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They provided support through digital information and advice 2 million times a year.
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They provided expert information and advice through calls to their Guide Line.
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They provided My Life Skills interventions for adults.
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They helped children with vision impairments to learn essential life skills so they can navigate the world around them confidently and safely.
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They delivered their Guide Dogs My Time to Play sessions to children and family members.
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They supported families through their Family Support and Education Support services.
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They deliver tailor-made large print books enabling children with sight loss to enjoy reading just like their friends.
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They supported children with technology – either with an iPad or a grant for more specialised accessible technology.
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They support active buddy dog partnerships.