Guidelines
- Joe Walker retires
- Camping Alert
- Bayleys Christmas Cheer
- Eva and Bailey
- Guide Dog Handler Day
- Big boost for Guide Dog Services
- Marvellous Marley!
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Joe Walker retires
Last month, Joe Walker retired as National Manager of Guide Dog Services, to spend more time fishing, camping and writing books. He also hopes to become a JP, a voluntary fisheries enforcement officer and a volunteer for the Citizens Advice Bureau in Waikato.
"I'm retiring from salaried employment," Joe says, "but I think it's fair to say I'll be fully occupied… I've also been approached about becoming a trustee at Waikato University."
Joe took over the harness at Guide Dog Services two years ago. He intends to remain closely involved with the Foundation and GDS, and will continue as a guardian to stud dog ANZAC.
His manager, Helen McKenzie, Divisional Manager Adaptive Living and Guide Dog Services, says Joe's New Zealand Army experience as second-in-command at defence headquarters brought important qualities to GDS.
"Joe came on board at a challenging point in time and has had a stabilising influence on the team," Helen says. "He's put his military background to good use in creating a strong, better focused service."
It's business as usual for GDS while Joe's replacement is being recruited, along with a new position of Manager Guide Dog Mobility Instructors.
Camping Alert
With summer now on the way, if you are thinking of taking your guide dog camping to a Department of Conservation (DOC) campground, please check first with the regional DOC office. Some campgrounds are situated near sensitive wildlife sanctuaries and, while you are entitled to access with your guide dog, it's also important that these places are protected. If you have any problems dealing with DOC, call your local Guide Dog Mobility Instructor or GDS who will support you to resolve the issue.
From the team at GDS, have a happy and safe holiday.
Bayleys Christmas Cheer
When is an event not an event? When you can ask your guests to relax and just stay in bed, says Bayleys Northwest, Titirangi and Waiheke. They hosted their first "non-event" in October. The novel idea had them asking their guests to remain horizontal and simply purchase a 'bed-sized' ticket (king, queen, double or single) in a draw. The winners flew to Melbourne for a bed and breakfast holiday. No glad rags, glitz or gossip at this soiree, just clean sheets and a nice nap!
A new print campaign featuring guide dog Bayley has also been launched, two years after the original Bayleys campaign started. This time guide dog Bayley shares
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the spotlight with his handler Dot Beard, and they look fabulous. With humour a key factor in the campaign, they still haven't forgotten to communicate the more serious message about supporting Guide Dog Services.
And with the third year of the partnership coming up, there is no question that Bayleys are serious about guide dogs.
By the middle of October they had raised $1.3 million and sponsored 34 guide dog puppies. Of those, three have become breeding stock and six have been matched with handlers and graduated from training.
Most recently, Rodney and Bachlar graduated and Chimera had a litter of ten puppies - nine black and one white (Shhh, don't mention the milkman!).
With oodles of passion, creative ideas and commitment, Bayleys are forging forward with plans to sponsor a total of 100 guide dogs!
Eva and Bailey
This story is about Eva, a guide dog who was withdrawn from training and a special boy named Bailey White (9) and his family - Jason (Dad), Louise (Mum), Madison (6) and Colby (5).
Bailey was born with cerebral palsy, cortical vision and epilepsy. Louise says they thought very carefully about getting a family dog.
"We knew it would be a big responsibility, but we felt it was time to get a companion for Bailey and a pet for the family.
"As we didn't have the time to train a new puppy, we were really excited to find out about Guide Dog Services' adoption programme.
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"They are extremely careful with their placements and we knew 'our' dog would have to be sensitive to Bailey's needs, energetic for Madison, and soft natured for Colby."
In July, Eva went to live with the Whites. Within a couple of weeks Eva and Bailey bonded. Louise says, "The look on Bailey's face when Eva first licked him was a Kodak moment - pure shock! Now he's used to her kisses and has learnt to stroke Eva gently.
"One emotional moment occurred three days after Eva joined us. I was doing Bailey's daily stretches when suddenly Eva came over and lay beside him through his set of stretches and continues to do so. Sometimes she lays her head on Bailey's stomach.
"Eva was never a failure. Like Bailey, her purpose was to come into our lives, to enrich them and to make us stronger. Eva is a truly wonderful companion."
For more information about adopting a withdrawn guide dog, please contact Denise Ireland (Adoption Services Manager) on 09 269 0400.
Guide Dog Handler Day
How susceptible are dogs to stress and what can you do about it? This question was answered for over 60 guide dog handlers, puppy walkers, boarders and breeding stock guardians at the Guide Dog Handler Day held recently in Palmerston North.
Dr Janice Lloyd, Lecturer in Animal Behaviour and Service Dog Husbandry at Massey University, spoke about how to read the symptoms of and understand the danger of stress building up in dogs. Jacinda Calder also from Massey University took a
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workshop on canine massage and its effectiveness in dealing with stress. Guide Dog Instructor Peter Kaufmann spoke on how to give your dog a "mental massage" and the different techniques handlers can employ to minimise stress for their dogs. Kim Norton, Guide Dog Instructor, presented a range of playtime activities to keep the relationship between handler and dog as stress free as possible. All the workshops were optional and offered both practical and theoretical advice and instruction.
Dr Jonathan Godfrey, RNZFB Board Director and long-time handler (currently with guide dog Louie) attended and said even the most experienced guide dog handler was able to learn from the presenters.
"Kim and Peter from Guide Dog Services, and Dr Janice Lloyd and Jacinda Calder from Massey University all gave attendees something to think about that can only help the relationship between dogs and their handlers. In the 14 years since getting my first guide dog, this event was the largest I've been part of.
"Reducing and relieving stress was the focus of the day. The clear message was that a happy dog makes for a good working relationship. Understanding the world from the dog's perspective can only help."
Big boost for Guide Dog Services
The Foundation is fortunate to have some fantastic sponsorship relationships and one of these is with the Pub Charity Inc. In June of this year a huge donation of $250,000 was given to Guide Dog Services. This was the largest grant ever received from this group. Outlets from around the country are well into the spirit of things and are running a naming competition for their sponsored pups!
Marvellous Marley!
Guide Dog Services have a new challenge for guide dogs in training thanks to Marley New Zealand Limited. Marley is one of New Zealand's largest plastic manufacturers and has generously donated Marley 40mm and 32mm PVC piping, bends and fittings to create what will now be known as the "Marley Obstacle Course". During training guide dogs will have to negotiate around and through 10 obstacles made from Marley products.