Guidelines
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Spotlight on sponsors
The Foundation has some wonderful corporate sponsors who help us out in all sorts of ways.
Bayleys Realty Group is the Principal Sponsor of Guide Dog Services. In the past five years they've raised nearly $1.8m. At the Bayleys Managers' Conference in February, an auction raised $100,000. Bayleys offices around the country also raise money from a variety of events, like art evenings and social functions.
Nestlé Purina is another Guide Dog Services sponsor, helping us by providing food for all guide dogs and puppies up to graduation, as well as breeding stock. At the Mystery Creek Fieldays in June, they donated dog whistles for us to sell.
You might have noticed TV ads and posters in shopping malls for Kleenex Cottonelle toilet paper. After buying the product, you can submit digits from the barcode either online or by text and they will donate $1 to Guide Dog Services. Kimberly-Clark is running this campaign and has supported us for over ten years.
Toll TRANZLINK is New Zealand's largest transport and logistics company, and every year they save us thousands of dollars by couriering all sorts of things for free. Whether it's CCTVs, collection buckets, or guide dog vans – they move it all!
Puppy walker pow-wows
Across the country, groups of puppy walkers are coming together to swap ideas and stay in touch.
From Christchurch to Tauranga to Hamilton, puppy walkers are meeting monthly to talk about any problems on the job, swap tips and catch up over a coffee. Some groups have been going informally for years, but others, like the central Auckland group, have just had their first meeting.
North Shore puppy walker Marilyn Valder really enjoys the get-togethers. "It's a chance for us to discuss what our dogs are doing, and to figure out if it's normal! But it's also a social time, and a chance to make new friends," she says.
Sometimes breeding stock guardians or former puppy
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walkers go along too – everyone is welcome.
The gatherings have an added benefit – they're also great as part of the pups' training. South Auckland puppy walker Pat Spencer says, "It's an opportunity to socialise them, and get them used to being around other dogs in a controlled setting."
New breeding centre complete
Construction work on the new breeding centre building is now complete and the centre will officially open later this year.
One litter and a number of breeding stock are due to move in shortly for a trial run of the new facilities, before the whole of breeding services relocates to its new home.
The new centre means more space to breed approximately 110 guide dog puppies every year. Check out December's Outlook for more news, images and an introduction to the first pups to be born at the centre!
Cadet Instructor follows dream
Since high school, Eve Chittenden has wanted to work with guide dogs and now she's following her dream.
Eve is a Cadet Guide Dog Mobility Instructor. It will take four years of intensive study and training to become a fully qualified instructor, and Eve is already halfway there.
Despite the hard work, Eve loves her job. "The most rewarding part of my job is seeing the difference that a guide dog makes to a person's life - and being a part of that."
She's learned how to assess and train guide dogs and now she's working with guide dog teams. This includes interviewing and assessing applicants, matching handlers to their dogs, training new teams and giving follow-up support.
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Eve's also taking post-graduate papers in rehabilitation, low vision and blindness through Massey University.
Seeing double
Twins David and John Monk have more than just looks in common - they both have guide dogs.
David and John (65) have been Foundation members for about 20 years.
David's had his current guide dog, Warner, for two and a half years, but has had guide dogs for more than 10.
John says that David made him more aware of the difference a guide dog makes, and he got his first guide dog, Homer, three years ago.
Growing up on the West Coast, David and John got glaucoma in their mid-40s. Today, David lives in Tauranga and John in Leeston, about 50km south-west of Christchurch.
Even though they're separated by distance, they still share a love of sports and the country.
John was a farmer for most of his life and is sports-mad, especially if it's cricket, rugby or horses.
David used to be a farmer as well, but now runs a kiwifruit orchard in Tauranga. He's a keen sailor and is also President of the Blind Lawn Bowling Association. Right now he's in the middle of raising funds to go to the Blind World Bowls Championships in Melbourne next year.
Getting to know Netty
Shona Scott knows a thing or two about guide dogs – she's used them for 24 years. In March, she was matched with her fifth guide dog, a black Labrador called Netty.
"I've had guide dogs since 1984, so you learn a lot," says Shona. "I've learned all sorts of things, from behavioural to medical stuff."
Shona says having a guide dog keeps her healthy. "I'm a diabetic and I've had open heart surgery, so I need to keep active. At 68 I wouldn't go to the gym, so I do a
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lot of walking with my dog."
Shona is now focusing on learning more about Netty. "It takes up to a year to really get to know a guide dog," she says. "You're always growing together."
Guide Dog Services holds matching meetings four times a year, in March, May, August and November.
There's life in the old dog yet!
When guide dog Jay retired in April this year, his adoption by a new family meant there was a happy ending for everyone involved.
Jay had worked with handler Bryan Lane for four years, in what Bryan describes as a great relationship. "He's a really affectionate, experienced dog," says Bryan.
Whenever Bryan was away on holiday, Jay used to board at Alison Cox's Wellington family home.
As Jay grew older, Bryan worked with Guide Dog Mobility Instructor Kim Norton to plan for his retirement. They wanted to make sure there would be a smooth transition between Jay's retirement and Bryan starting to work with a new guide dog. Because there wasn't enough space in his house for two dogs, Bryan knew Jay would need to live with someone else.
Kim mentioned to Alison that Jay would need to be retired and after thinking it over, Alison offered Jay a home. Alison says, "The family had grown so fond of Jay that adopting just felt right."
Bryan, who now works with two-year-old yellow Labrador Lucy, says adopting Jay out was a bit sad, but it was comforting to know where Jay was going. "It was a great help that I knew I could call up anytime to see how Jay was getting on," says Bryan.
Alison adds, "Jay was a bit restless initially because he went from being a working dog to being on one long holiday. But now he's relaxed and really well adjusted. He was a great guide dog for a long time, and now he has a happy environment to spend his last years in."
Bryan and Jay were recently reunited at an event. Bryan says, "It was funny seeing him, because I could sense he was thinking, 'what are you doing here?'"