Matamata VIPs visit Guide Dog Services
18 June 2012
The Matamata Vision Impaired Group recently paid a visit to the RNZFB Guide Dog Centre. Aside from the enjoyment of a social outing, the group went along to the centre to visit a litter of puppies who's father is Yazz, the guide dog of one of the group's members.
Below, club member Connie Humphries, has written about the day:
It was an early 8.30am start on Wednesday 30 May for 18 members, two guide dogs and a few supporters of the Matamata VIP group.
The day began with a lovely crisp atumn morning which we had all hoped for as we had been invited up to Manurewa, to the Guide Dog Centre.
One of our members, Rosemary Locke, has a guide dog named Yazz, who's semen was collected for the breeding programme. Yazz's his first litter of seven puppies was born on 12 April, and included two black girls, two yellow girls and three black boys. The mother of the pups is yellow Labrador Talby and this is her second litter.
We made it to the Bombay Service centre in good time for a comfort stop and a quick cuppa, then back on the road as we were expected at 11am.
When we arrived we were welcomed and shown a short DVD on the running of the centre. We were all very excited when we found out we could cuddle two of the puppies brought out to us, lovely to see the smiles on everyone’s faces, the pups were so gorgeous. And heavy! Certainly very healthy!
Then while Rosemary and her mother were allowed to see and cuddle the other puppies in the quarantine area, we were shown around the kennel areas with the dogs in training. We also walked down to view the memorial plaques in the garden.
We all very much enjoyed our morning there and feel privileged to be shown around. Mr David Swap, a Matamata businessman, had very kindly donated the use of the two vans and the petrol. We finished off the morning with a carvery lunch at the Papakura RSA.
Image caption: The Matamata VIP group outside the front entrance of Guide Dog Services.
Image caption: Rosemary with two of the pups.
