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New life for blind Judy
WHEN Judy Taylor met her first guide dog Neana her life was changed forever.
The Labrador opened up a whole new world of opportunity for the then 21-year-old, including the possibility of a career and the chance to live independently.
Now, 54 years and seven guide dogs later, Judy said she can't imagine life without her four-legged friend.
She said: "Without the dog I would be housebound. I would never be able to go out independently. Having a guide dog can transform a blind person's life."
The 75-year-old's most recent charge is Elsa, a four-year-old golden retriever. Over the years she has had several types of dogs, including the first labradoodle – labrador and poodle crossbreed – bred as a guide dog in the UK.
All the dogs have come to her through The Guide Dogs for the Blind Association.
A spokesman for the charity said: "Whatever one's age, whatever the condition, sight loss causes a huge adjustment to everyday routines and activities. Above all, it can mean a severe loss of mobility.
"The Guide Dogs for the Blind Association is here to help, with the extraordinary partnership between guide dog and visually impaired owner at the core."
The dogs are trained to guide their owners around obstacles when they are out – make sure their owners stop at the edge of a road, and make sure they stay safe.
Judy, of Tamworth Street, Duffield, said: "They are fantastic. They are very clever creatures. I don't know how they do it, but wonderful as they are, they are still dogs. You can't put a human brain into them.
"They don't know you can't see, they're just doing what they have been trained for."
One of the main problems that Judy, a former Belper teacher, has encountered has been people distracting the dog by fussing over it when she is out and the dog is working.
She said: "People are very sympathetic when you can't see but sometimes they are thoughtless. I feel awful telling people they can't stroke her, but she can't be distracted. My safety depends on it.
"Another problem is when drivers park up on the pavement and block the way. The dog won't take me down there, so I have to get her to lead me out into the road. It's dangerous. It would be good if people could remember that some people can't see and they need to get around safely."
Blind people with dogs have become regulars on the streets of the UK since the Guide Dogs charity was set up in the 1930s. There are now currently more than 4,500 guide dogs working with blind people nationwide.
Guide Dogs has been running in the UK for more than 75 years. Since its beginnings it has helped thousands of people regain their independence after losing their sight.
Every year around 1,200 new guide dogs are bred.
Each dog will go through a rigorous training programme before being paired with an owner at around two years of age.
They are placed with a volunteer puppy walker, who will socialise the dog and train it to get used to the different environments it will face, for around a year. It will then go to a special guide dog training school, before eventually undergoing training with its new owner.
The average guide dog will have a six or seven-year career.
It costs more than 10,000 to train a guide dog, but blind people using the service are charged just 50 pence for the dog to ensure the people on all levels of income have access to a guide dog.
Anyone with a sight problem is encouraged to contact The Guide Dogs for the Blind Association for information on getting a guide dog on 0845 372 7499 or emailing guidedogs@guidedogs.org.uk.
Anyone who would like to donate to the charity, which runs entirely on public donation, can also make contact that way.
Judy said: "It's such a worthwhile charity. A guide dog gives you the next best thing to having your sight. Isn't that worth having?"
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Weather for Belper
Thursday 09 February 2012
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