You love them ... then let them go
| Published date | 03 August 2022 |
Behind every diligent guide dog that can be seen on the street restoring a sense of independence to its visually impaired owner, there's an unsung hero who has given away a bit of their heart to perform one of the most selfless acts imaginable - they have loved that dog, and then let it go.
Without puppy raisers like Carol Duffin, visually impaired people would be denied the companionship and confidence that comes with the gift of a guide dog - a loyal servant who'll keep them safe by being by their side, acting as their eyes and making judgment calls on their behalf.
People like Carol are a critical cog in the well-oiled wheel of the Lanarkshire-based Guide Dogs training centre, at which the intelligence and loyalty that's part of the DNA of specially-bred puppies is brought to the fore.
It's there that pups like eight-month-old Labradoodle
Megan are destined to start the meticulous training that will prepare them for the years they will devote to a visually impaired person.
The name Megan, which is of Welsh origin meaning 'pearl,' was bestowed on the puppy by kindhearted sponsors and supporters of the Guide Dogs charity.
Carol welcomed the fluffy, white bundle into her home when the pup was just eight weeks old.
Megan is the third guide dog puppy retired nurse Carol has loved and trained, before handing each one over to the Guide Dogs Training Centre in Hamilton for them to begin their lives as working dogs.
"Although I've always loved dogs, I was an NHS nurse and so didn't have a dog throughout my adult life," explained Carol.
"I took early retirement and was looking for volunteering opportunities.
" In order to do this, I thought I'd have to be qualified and have dog training experience. But after a visit and an interview, I was asked when I'd like a puppy."
Carol travelled to the Forfar Guide Dogs Training Centre for her induction, where she heard a visually impaired person explain the difference between getting around with a cane and navigating everyday life with assistance from a dog.
With a cane, there were obstacles in the way of a tentative walk to the local Post Office in the forms of bins and street furniture.
But with a guide dog, the same walk took half the time, and...
To continue reading
Request your trial