Guidelines
- Welcome
- Breeding boss
- 30 years for Guide Dog Services
- Out and about with Bernie
- Puppies better than Xmas cards
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Welcome
It has been a privilege to attend events around the country celebrating the RNZFB Guide Dog Services (GDS) 30th anniversary and to acknowledge and thank those who have lent support over the years to make the service what it has become. Also, it was a great opportunity to catch up with current and past guide dog users and owners, local dignitaries, sponsors and donors, volunteers and staff.
About three months ago I conveyed my intention to step aside as general manager, GDS. It's been an incredible 15 years where we as a team have achieved about 97 out of 100 things we set out to do. My sincere thanks and congratulations to all those involved - dogs and people. From the 17 November, I transferred to a new position as GDS international relations and field services manager, and also have the opportunity to get back into the field again working with members. Paul Hooper, in his role as acting divisional manager, adaptive living, who is also a graduate guide dog and O&M instructor, is overseeing operations for the time being. I wish everyone an excellent festive season and New Year.
Breeding boss
Lauren Elgie finished her masters degree in veterinary studies at Massey this year after specialising in genetics. Her thesis was on inherited ocular disorders, based on a test for a particular mutation in Irish Setters. This research, her experience in dog breeding, and Lauren's passion for her work, made her the ideal candidate for the breeding services manager.
"You can read a lot of literature and write text but you don't have a colony of dogs to put your hands on," Lauren observes about her five years of study and previous work for a vaccine company.
At GDS she spends about 50 percent of her time caring for and supervising the 35 stud dogs and breeding bitches and looks after the 35 retired dogs in the breeding colony. The other half of her time is spent on research and breeding decisions.
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The decision on which dogs to breed in a particular season are based not only on pedigree and the temperament of previous pups, but by observing the dogs' health and keeping records of their particular behaviour patterns as well. "I'm so used to keeping accurate stats," Lauren says, "that I've been able to improve record keeping. Being more thorough about it and making staff aware of its importance is critical." In the field of genetics the full impact of decisions made now may not be visible for 10 years. Breeding managers in the future need to be able to refer back to what was happening in a particular year. At the same time it is important to have a vision for the future. Lauren has yet to see any results of her breeding decisions, having only started her job in March this year. Some of the first pups are just being whelped and as she says, "it takes two years to produce a guide dog that you can assess." She is keenly awaiting the outcome. Lauren is also looking forward to commencing the guide dog trainer cadetship, which will focus on canine assessment and temperament.
30 years for Guide Dog Services
Thirty years ago guide dogs were a rare sight on New Zealand streets. Through ignorance they were often barred from public places and transport such as restaurants and buses. Despite this, it was an exciting time for Guide Dog Services (GDS). The first teams graduated in New Zealand after puppy walking, training and matching, and went on to develop a unique bond of trust, affection and confidence in each other. The excellent quality of service was set up by the 'pioneers' Sandy Tocher, Brian Peel and Barry Hatton.
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Over the past three decades GDS has gone from strength to strength. GDS matches more teams each year than all the Australian guide dog schools put together.
On 18 October around 350 people gathered at the Guide Dog Centre in South Auckland to celebrate this much-prized, world-class service. Dot Beard, a graduate in 1973 with her dog Gypsy, flew up from Christchurch, where she had organised a similar celebration in early August for South Island guide dog teams. She brought with her the first harness, disk and lead, and had the joint honour of cutting the official cake, along with fellow guide dog user Toni Swan.
"It's easy to reminisce about the 'good old days' with guide dog Gypsy," Dot said just before the celebration, "but at that time we were hardly allowed to take dogs anywhere."
Don McKenzie, chair of the Foundation and a guide dog owner, reiterated that public attitudes have changed. Don spoke of how much easier it is for him now to move around the country independently from his home on Waiheke Island.
Dame Catherine Tizard, a former patron and a puppy walker of the Foundation, described the challenges of toilet training a puppy in a large residence such as Government House in Wellington. The earlier Christchurch celebrations were held at the Hornby Workingmen's Club and drew members from all over the South Island. Ian Fairweather - the first vet, who helped with Dot Beard's dog Gypsy 30 years ago, attended and is still practicing as a vet. The revelry went on into the small hours of the morning, with speeches and feasting.
Out and about with Bernie
Carey Hammond and Elton were one of only two guide dog teams in Rotorua back in 1987. Sixteen years on, Carey is with his sixth dog, Bernie, a Border Collie Golden Retriever cross who arrived just over a year ago. For the first time training had included getting Bernie familiar
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with Rotorua's streets.
"That made it a lot easier," says Carey, who walks 4km to work each day as full-time switchboard operator at the Rotorua District Council.
"I don't take him to nightclubs and concerts, but he goes everywhere else with me, shopping and so on. For me it's quicker to get around [with a guide dog], and a lot safer."
Confidence is not the only asset Bernie brings. Carey has noticed that having a guide dog means people approach him in the street and offer assistance or just say hello. When he uses a white cane they don't so much.
There has only been one situation, years ago, when he was asked to leave a restaurant. The restaurant was full so he didn't insist, but working for the council came in handy. Monday morning, a council officer rang the restaurant manager and explained Carey's legal rights. Now, Carey says, there's greater public awareness about guide dogs.
Puppies better than Xmas cards
Top tier law firm Simpson Grierson has two clever new minds joining its team - guide dog puppies Simpson and Grierson.
Simpson Grierson has made the strategic decision to invest the money normally spent on producing and sending traditional Christmas cards in a community project, and has donated $25,000 to the Foundation's guide dog programme to train Simpson and Grierson. Chairman Rob Fisher says, "This is a fresh new initiative for the firm which has received overwhelming approval from our staff."
"We are thrilled that Simpson Grierson is supporting our Guide Dog Programme," says Ian Cox, Guide Dog Services general manager.
"We really appreciate the support of corporate organisations like Simpson Grierson."
Guide dog puppies Simpson and Grierson recently donned corporate attire - their snazzy red coats - and visited their sponsors to familiarise themselves with an office environment.