A match made in heaven: Guide Dogs Victoria reaches an exciting milestone…
Guide Dogs Victoria is getting into match making season this year as it celebrates having reached 250 current working Guide Dog partnerships across the state.
While the beloved charity has trained thousands of life changing Guide Dogs over its 60 plus year history, this is the first time there will be 250 Guide Dogs working in Victoria at the one time.
The recipient of the current 250th Guide Dog in Victoria is local Point Cook resident Antony, who was recently partnered with the special, milestone Guide Dog Brett (lead image). The team are a pawfect match.
Antony, who is diagnosed with Retinitis Pigmentosa originally trained with a white cane as his primary mobility aid, and didn’t initially feel he needed a Guide Dog. However, due to an increasingly busy lifestyle while completing his final year of studying, decided he would feel more confident and independent exploring new environments with a Guide Dog.
The pair recently completed their one-on-one training and are now officially a dream team. “The training was an awesome experience, our Guide Dog Mobility Instructor would come around every day to teach us the techniques and help us learn to work with one another,” Antony said.
“I soon realised through training with Brett and bonding with him that he is a really laid back and relaxed dog, he matches my personality very well. One amazing benefit that Brett has had on my life so far is that he has now made me a morning person, opposites can work! Getting out in the morning and exercising has been a really good change.”
“I grew up in a very musical family, and eventually even went on tour with a band around New Zealand and Australia, I believe that Brett has given me the freedom to be independent and travel around unfamiliar places again.”
“As I embark on the final chapter of my studies and look to get a new job when I graduate, I will feel very confident with Brett by my side,” Antony continues.
Guide Dogs Victoria CEO, Karen Hayes said, "Great care and attention to detail goes into the matching of a Guide Dog and Handler. We learn each dog’s skills and temperament to gain an intimate understanding of how they might eventually match our Client's lifestyle and needs to ensure that they are a perfect fit for each other.”
“It’s fantastic to see that Antony and his new Guide Dog Brett are matched so well and the difference Brett has already made in Antony’s life. This partnership goes to show that our Guide Dogs provide so much more than mobility benefits. They offer companionship and confidence through the powerful bond shared with the person they are matched with.
“I want to encourage anyone who is living with low vision or blindness and would like support, to get in touch with our team so that we can help find you the right service or Guide Dog match,” Ms Hayes continued.
You can find out more about service provided by Guide Dogs Victoria, or refer someone you know living with low vision or blindness by visiting www.guidedogs.com.au.
Media Release February 2022