Labrador Forums, Labrador chat rooms, photos, breeders, rescue -> Guide Dogs

Karen writes "Scott Cunningham will be setting out on his final trek on 10th May across the Pennine Way, having completed the West Highland Way, Southern Upland Way and the Speyside Way. What makes all of this so remarkable is that Scott is totally blind and is aided by his super-fit guide dog Travis.

What is Travistrek all about? - taken from www.travistrek.co.uk

"With Scotland under their belt, the dynamic duo are now looking further afield, and will this year tackle all 268 miles of The Pennine Way. They will cross the border from England back home to Scotland in 16 continuous walking days starting on the 10th of May 2007. This national trail is continually considered to be one of Britain’s most challenging long distance walks.

Scott's objective through travistrek.co.uk is twofold: he aims to raise much needed funds for the Guide Dogs for the Blind Association (GDBA), and also hopefully inspire other blind people to embrace challenges, big or small and experience the same sense of motivation and rewards that he has gained from his expeditions. Now in its 4th extremely successful year, travistrek.co.uk has raised over £40,000 for the GDBA to date.

The money raised so far has been used to fully train and care for 7 Guide Dog puppies that will eventually be placed with new owners. With your continued support this year, we hope to raise even more and enable more visually-impaired people to lead full and active lives."

Trek progress will be updated on this thread:
http://www.labradorforums.co.uk/ftopict-24053.html

Thanks to Scott Cunningham for allowing use of text and images from the Travistrek website."

(comments? | Score: 0)

bradleysmum writes "Take A Look!

We've put together with one of our suppliers a clothing catalogue called The Great Outpaws and for the logo we have combined the dogs head from the Guide Dogs logo and added The Great Outpaws. All the clothing is Regatta and Fruit of the Loom as we felt it was really important to use quality products.

From Kim Adrian
http://www.thegreatoutpaws.co.uk/"

(comments? | Score: 0)

bradleysmum writes "Guide Dogs launches a year of anniversary celebrations commemorating the 75 years since the first guide dogs began working in the UK.

Rt Hon David Blunkett MP will join guide dog owners from across the UK on the Isle of Dogs (London, Docklands) on Thursday 26 January at Guide Dog’s new interactive exhibition. The display called ‘Moving Forward Together’ will be unveiled at the event, being held at the Museum in Docklands, West India Quay. "

(Read More... | 3381 bytes more | 1 comment | Score: 0)

bradleysmum writes "FOUR years ago, Slaithwaite woman Wendy Wood began losing her sight.

But now, she has been given a new pair of `eyes' - in the form of guide dog Leah.

Wendy, 41, welcomed two-year-old yellow labrador Leah into her home in October.

Leah was given to Wendy by The Guide Dogs for the Blind Association.

She says since then, her life has totally changed.

"

(Read More... | 7702 bytes more | 1 comment | Score: 0)

SmudgesMum writes "A HUDDERSFIELD woman has become only the second person in Britain to be given a dual-purpose guide and hearing dog.

Molly Dyson, of Netherton, says her life has been transformed by two-year-old labrador/retriever cross Erica.

Molly, 63, added: "I've met my soulmate. She's made me so happy and such a difference to my life. Erica is like an angel at the end of a harness."

The mother-of-two and grandmother of three grandsons sufferers from Ushers Syndrome. This robs its victims of their sight and hearing by the time they reach adulthood.

Molly, who was a proficient musician, was registered blind at the age of 40 and shortly afterwards lost all her hearing.

She also suffers from arthritis and osteoporosis, which makes it difficult for her to bend.

Erica was specially chosen from a litter of pups to first be trained as a guide dog for the blind and then as a hearing dog for the deaf.

She has also been trained to fetch and carry for Molly, loading the washing machine, picking up the phone and retrieving items which Molly may have dropped on the floor.

She also responds to doorbells, phones, smoke alarms and kitchen timers.

Erica has been jointly trained by the Guide Dogs for the Blind and Hearing Dogs for Deaf People charities at a cost of more than £45,000.

Jackie Boyle, senior dog trainer for Hearing Dogs for Deaf People, was involved with training Erica.

Her sight and hearing training took more than six months.

"Erica and Molly are doing brilliantly together. They've bonded really well. It's lovely to see them," said Jackie.

Molly had two guide dogs, Elaine and Connie, but both were retired.

She spent about four months at home waiting for Erica to complete her training and is delighted now they have finally linked up.

"I went shopping and dropped a £10 note on the floor of the store," said Molly. "Erica immediately picked it up and gave it to me. A man said: `I wish I had a dog like that.'

"She's so soft and gentle and so polite. Guide dogs are all special - but Erica is something else."

* Guide Dogs for the Blind have been providing blind and partially-sighted people with the freedom and independence such dogs give them for nearly 75 years.

* The charity runs campaigns to raise public awareness of the importance of eye health. Visit www.healthy eyes.org.uk for more details.

* The charity campaigns for the rights of the blind and partially-sighted community, particularly on mobility and access issues.

* The Hearing Dogs for Deaf People group was launched at the world-famous Crufts Dog Show in 1982.

* The group has continued to train dogs - like Erica right - to alert deaf people to specific sounds, whether in the home, at work or in public buildings.

* To date, the group has placed more than 1,000 hearing dogs throughout England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

"

(Read More... | 3211 bytes more | comments? | Score: 0)

[ Script generation time: 0.158s (PHP: 84% - SQL: 16%) ] - [ SQL queries: 80 ] - [ Pages served in past 5 minutes : 351 ] - [ GZIP disabled ] - [ Debug off ]

			Pet Labrador Forums, Labrador Chat, Labrador Photo Gallery. Chocolate Labradors, Yellow Labradors, Black Labradors. Come one, Come all Hosted by www.cheapukwebhosting.com PHPNuke hosting specialists Furbabies Pet Shop \|\| Motorhome Accessories \|\| Motorhome Directory \|\| Labrador Dogs \|\| Pet Forums \|\| Peugeot \|\| Caravans \|\| Baby Forums P H P Nuke Copyright © 2004

			Mans best friend