The South African Guide-Dogs Association is celebrating 70 years of training specialised dogs to be the eyes of the blind and visually impaired.
The non-profit has a branch in Claremont but its origins go back to 1953, when it was founded by Gladys Evans, who trained the first guide dog at the Paulshof office in Johannesburg. It still serves as the centre’s head office and training facility today.
In 1974, the association opened its College of Orientation and Mobility at the head office to train instructors to go out into communities across the country to teach daily life skills to people living with visual impairment.
In the 1990s, the services expanded to include service dog training for people with physical disabilities and autism support dog training for children on the autism spectrum.
In 2003, the guide dogs training and marketing centre was opened in Claremont.
Over the past 70 years, the association has trained more than 1700 qualified assistance dogs.
“The association has been changing lives for 70 years and we plan to keep changing lives well into the future,” said Jackie Quail, the marketing manager at the association’s Claremont branch.
Guide-dog mobility instructor Cheryl Robertson has been with the organisation for 30 years.
“Each of our dogs that we train goes on to make someone else content, independent and loved,” she said. “Understanding the human-animal bond is so important to make each of our partners have happy mobile lives.”
Paraplegic Andrew Merryweather, whose service dog, Oslo, was trained by the association, said, “The association is one big family, and my entire experience with everyone in the organisation has been one of warmth, friendliness, encouragement, lots of smiles and loads of laughter.
“Oslo has increased my independence, improved my safety, given me emotional support, increased socialisation and provided me with greater mobility.”
The association launched its “70 Days of Giving for SA Guide-Dogs” campaign on Tuesday May 9, and it will run until Tuesday July 18. The goal is to raise R700 000 in 70 days.
Facing rising costs for fuel, medication and maintenance, the association had had to dig deeper to keep the dogs-in-training comfortable and healthy, Ms Quail said.
The public are being asked to hold their own fund-raisers – everything from setting personal fitness goals to holding a fun run – at their school or office, in return for a certificate and a visit by some of the association’s special dogs.
Visit guidedog.org.za or email JackieQ@guidedog.org.za for more information.
