Puppy partner a life changing experience

AFTER living with a visual impairment for years, Joan Ennis is glad she finally reached out for help.

She’s been using a cane for years, but said receiving, Vito, her own Seeing Eye Dog from Vision Australia has been life changing.

“The cane is one thing and it’s alright on a solid surface but I couldn’t walk on gravel, dirt or grass really, so it was very limiting and doesn’t protect like a dog does,” she said.

“He helps immensely with my mobility because he is trained to predict my presence and will estimate if I can get through a spot and if I can’t he’ll stop and let me assess the situation.

“He’s a black lab which are beautifully bred for confirmation, sturdiness, their temperament and ability to learn, I only have to show him a place once and then he will remember the next time.”

While the application process to receive one of Vision Australia’s trained and professional Seeing Eye Dogs is incredibly detailed, Ms Ennis said it was all worth it.

“To start off with I had two phone interviews and then one of the head trainers came up and spent the day here to check out me and the place,” she said.

“Then they recommended me for a dog, and because of the sight issues I have, and it went to the board and they let me know a week later that I made it to the list, that was December 2019.

“Everything was free, the dog, food, futons, everything we needed, but it costs then around $50,000 to train a dog so I take it very seriously.”

While the usual procedure to acquire a Seeing Eye Dog includes staying in Kensington and helping to train the dog there, due to COVID, Ms Ennis was able to train her dog, Vito, from the comfort of her home.

“So that was a silver lining, I was pretty happy when they rang up and said firstly they had a dog for me and that they were bringing it up and do all the training here,” she said.

“They trained the dog for three weeks here, on Mondays to Friday and would leave him here on the weekends so we could bond but we just fell into each other’s arms the first time we met.

“It was really helpful that they came here to train, I read all the handbooks as well so I felt really prepared.”

With Vito in her company for just over three months, Ms Ennis said she’s already noticed a dramatic increase in her mobility and that the freedom he offers her is amazing.

“The first time I felt that was walking with him in the park behind me here with the trainers I said to Vito, I can see your ears flowing in the breeze and I feel like mine are too, it was the nicest feeling,” she said.

“I’ve had my visual impairment for around six years and my friend pushed me to go to Vision Australia, and they have been so marvellous and done everything to help.

“It’s lovely walking along and talking to him, you can’t talk to a cane, Vito means life giving or life changing, and that’s what he’s been to me.”