Dogs are guiding light

By Ed Merrison
FOR Belgrave resident Heather Wright, looking after Dallas, Dusty, Eamon, Evie, Glen, Greta and Grady is a full-time job, but one she would not swap for anything in the world.
As guide dog services team leader at Guide Dogs Victoria, Ms Wright will soon be taking part in Guide Dog Week which runs from Monday, 24 April to Sunday, 30 April.
The week, which includes International Guide Dog Day on Wednesday, 26 April, aims to raise awareness of how guide dogs assist blind and vision-impaired Victorians with safe and independent travel, as well as alerting the community to the legal rights of guide dog users.
The week culminates in an open day at Guide Dogs Victoria’s Kew headquarters where Ms Wright’s role currently puts her in charge of instructing seven dogs from three litters.
Ms Wright teaches them for between five and six months after which they are walked by an instructor under blindfold for a final test.
Those that do not make the grade become companion or therapy dogs while those that cut it go on to become the eyes of a blind or visually impaired adult.
Ms Wright has been an instructor for 17 years, beginning in her native England where she spent five years as a veterinary nurse before deciding she wanted more people contact to complement her time with animals.
“This is the one career that really satisfies that – I love it. I can’t imagine doing anything else so rewarding and fulfilling,” she said.
Perhaps inevitably, Ms Wright shed tears when first faced with the prospect of giving the dogs up to their new owners but experience has taught her to cope with the process.
“I’ve seen the difference it makes to people’s lives. It makes it much easier to hand them over when you know there is such a great result,” she said.
Ms Wright said Labradors were chosen for the role because they are adaptable, affectionate, quick to bond and willing to please.
Despite the fact they share those traits, it would be far from the truth to say all of them are the same.
“I used to think a dog is a dog is a dog but of the 300 or so I’ve handled they all have very different personalities.
“We take that into account when we match the dog to the client. We make sure the bond is appropriate and the client’s lifestyle and personality is taken into account,” she said.
Prior to their period of instruction, the dogs spend 10 months with a puppy raiser which is where Mt Dandenong resident Jenny Annett comes in.
Ms Annett currently hosts 8-month-old Wrenna, her family’s third puppy.
“We toilet train them, teach them how to behave and basically socialise them.
“Now (Wrenna) is old enough to be introduced to heavy traffic and public transport,” she said.
Ms Annett, who will be working on a stall on International Guide Dog Day, echoed Ms Wright’s thoughts on the rewarding nature of the relationship.
“You do miss them when they leave. It’s a lot of work but we look at it as we are doing something for the community,” Ms Annett said.
The Guide Dogs Open Day will take place from 11am to 4pm on Sunday, 30 April at Guide Dogs Victoria, Chandler Highway, Kew.
Entry is by gold coin donation.
For full details visit www.guidedogsvictoria.com.au.