ST Paul’s Ladies Group were joined by Denise Biggs of the Guide Dogs Association for their latest meeting.

Accompanied by guide dog Topsy, Mrs Biggs accepted a cheque for £150 raised at the group’s very successful July coffee morning.

The ladies took the opportunity to learn about the association, which relies entirely on donations and receives no Government support.

Over its lifetime a single guide dog can cost the association £40,000 to breed, train and support.

Providing a brief history of guide dogs, which surprisingly date back to the first century, Mrs Biggs went on to explain the current training practices.

These involve the dog living with a puppy walker from six weeks old to 14 months, during which time it will learn how to behave and some basic commands.

The association meet all costs at this time.

She emphasised that puppy walkers were always needed. The role required someone who could be at home most of the time and have suitable accommodation for the dog.

After 14 months, the dog moves on to one of four training centres around the country. Here it receives one to one training and gets used to negotiating obstacles and actually guiding people.

At 20 months the dog is finally ready to be paired up with an owner for a working life of seven or eight years. During this time, each guide dog will offer its owner a freedom and a confidence to get out and about that they might otherwise never enjoy.

Sue Lumsden