Celebrating guide dogs

WEDNESDAY April 24 marked International Guide Dogs Day where the animals are honoured for the difference they make in people’s lives.

Guide Dogs help those who are blind or have low vision to get around the community without limits and live the lives they choose.

Guide Dogs Victoria Chief Executive Nicky Long said the day recognises all the wonderful things guide dogs do to support their handlers.

“International Guide Dogs Day is a celebration of the amazing partnership between a guide dog handler who is usually a blind, low vision person and the guide dog.

“It’s a matching of a partnership that begins right back around 18 months of age for the dog and continues for up to 10 years in some instances.”

Peter Tomlins is a Guide Dog Mobility Instructor for the Geelong region and works with clients and their dogs in the region supporting them through the entire process.

“I love seeing people become more confident and being able to reach their objectives.”

“I enjoy seeing people progress and meet their goals, and I love seeing the relationship between the hander and the dog develop over time.”

Mr Tomlins said the guide dogs also help handlers cope with the anxiety around travel, helping them negotiate every obstacle along the way.

The Geelong Region has been a long-time supporter of Guide Dogs Victoria.

“We absolutely love the support we get from Geelong and areas further out,” Ms Long said.

“We love receiving their support as volunteers as puppy trainers, when we have events in the area and also as simple as them raising awareness with their own community is a big help to us.”

To mark the day Guide Dogs Victoria launched their latest campaign, ‘wherever you can go, guide dogs can go to’.

The new initiative aims to raise awareness in the community around access rights for guide dogs and their handlers.

Guide dog users often face refusal from taxi and rideshare services, with 46 per cent experiencing a refusal in the past two years.

“Guide dogs serve as vital companions, empowering individuals with low vision and blindness to navigate the world with confidence and safety,” Ms Long said.

“The unfortunate rise is access refusals, specifically in rideshare, poses a significant barrier, contradicting the very essence of the freedom and independence guide dogs symbolise.

For more information on Guide Dogs Victoria, head to vic.guidedogs.com.au