Guide Dogs

Hands up who remembers collecting milk bottle lids to send to Blue Peter so they could buy guide dogs for the blind!? Taking part in those fundraising activities gave many of us a lifelong affection and interest in guide dogs. We can all recognise that a guide dog can offer a unique, safe and effective way of getting about independently and confidently – but did you know that to be a guide dog owner you don't need to have lost all your sight? Most people who own a guide dog still have some vision. You don't even have to be formally registered as blind or partially-sighted. There’s no upper age limit to being a guide dog user - people in their seventies, eighties and even nineties become successful guide dog owners. No previous experience of keeping a dog is necessary - providing you are committed and able enough to work with, support and care for a guide dog then our training will teach you all you need to know. It costs just 50p to have a guide dog. All essential equipment and training is provided by Guide Dogs, and they can also cover the cost of vet bills and dog food if people wish.

Owning a guide dog is not just about improving mobility. A guide dog and its owner exist as a partnership, and the companionship, loyalty and fun that each partner brings to this relationship can be immensely rewarding.

You can learn more about the world of Guide Dogs by coming along to the meeting point lunch in Fife Carers Centre on Friday 30th April 2010 when Pamela Munro, the Information Officer from The Guide Dogs for the Blind Association will be the speaker.

If you would like to explore the possibility of you or someone you know getting a guide dog please call Guide Dogs on 0845 372 7499 and they will arrange to come and talk to you, informally and confidentially, to help you decide if a guide dog might be suitable for you. Guide Dogs staff understand how severely people's independence can be affected by sight loss, and they can explore the best way of meeting your specific needs. There is nothing to lose and potentially much to gain by exploring allthe options - so get in touch.