PLEASE READ MY STORY IN THE NEXT PARAGRAPH  BELOW

Every October we celebrate our charity's history and achievements on the anniversary of the first four UK guide dog partnerships, back in 1931.This year, we've created the Pups to Partnerships a life changing Guide dogs Appeal, where our ambition is to fund seven lifetime guide dog partnerships this October alone! To succeed, weve set an ambitious target and need to raise £420,000 - the lifetime cost of funding seven guide dog partnerships, in just 31 daysTo make this super special, we're attempting a Guinness World Record, and you and your furry friends are invited.

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MY STORY

#GuideDogChamps 

Most of you will know my wonderful Guide Dog Casa who so recently retired last Monday,30th September age 11. 

Although Casa is staying with me (how could I not care for her in retirement, after the 10 years of care she has given me;) retirement still brings huge emotions of uncertainty for the future, feelings of having ‘lost’ my eyes, upset, even fear, quietness but still wanting to pour my love and thanks onto Casa and not let my upset affect her. 

Saturday 5th October saw Guide Dogs make a WORLD RECORD BID at Warwick Racecourse for photographing the greatest number of dogs in one place. Not just Guide Dogs but all dogs (and handlers!) were invited. 

I had pre-registered for this event, but not really considering that Casa would have retired when it happened. Most of you know I suffer with depression / Anxiety. My friends thankfully gave me a lift there, but upon arriving and being surrounded by all dogs but especially Guide Dog partnerships; dogs in harness working with theIr owner had me in tears. It reminded me what a precious thing I had lost in Casa. She was still with me, my treasure, but already feeling her ‘era’ was confined to a part of my history. 

Alongside the photo shoot, a dog show was taking place. To be honest I hadn’t taken much notice. I was too focussed on my friends helping my anxiety and filling me with copious cups of tea. The ‘Veteran Dog Class’ was called. I wasn’t that enthusiastic but got persuaded to part with my tea as the arena was next to where we were sitting. 

Casa and I trotted along. My hated mobility stick also present. Now Casa isn’t working, the ‘stick’ has to be my eyes. We entered the ring and lined up. Having never been to a dog show before I had no idea how they worked. The judge came along and I told her Casa’s story. 

I told her that Casa is a labrador / flat coat retriever cross and was 11 and had been with me since she was about 2 years old. In this time Casa has been everywhere with me. She has led the choir procession with me singing in St Paul’s Cathedral, she collected my PhD with me, she comes para-rowing with me all around the country, ( #WorcesterRowingClub ) (  #MaidenheadRowingClub)  she comes to play blind tennis, we play blind cricket for the U.K. Ladies Blind Cricket Team, she even comes to a blind Border Morris dancing side with me. ( #notsoxsightedbordermorris). I told her about the two times that Casa has undoubtedly saved my life. Barking and blocking my way, the sign for danger and stopping me falling down stairs or perhaps worse, stopping me from falling into the flooded River Severn. The steps I was attempting to go down were now covered in water with rising water. Two hours earlier I had been up the same steps without a problem. Quite frankly she has had as much of and as much of an adventure as I have. But I am sure of this, she is a life saver in oh so many ways. Casa is a dog in a million. 

I also told the judge that Casa was the best companion I had ever had. When tough times came i could not have survived my  mental health challenges had it not been for Casa. It’s true what they sat “I needed a hand; you gave me your paw.” Casa is my soul - mate, my companion always, my partner, my everything I never had, my friend. But my more than this just as I loved her, she gave me unconditional love, and, she taught me how to be loved.

By now I was holding back tears and a hug from my friend - as well as Casa’s faithful ‘lean’, I tickled her head to reassure her I was ok. 

The results were in. Casa had been placed 1ST for the VETERAN DOG CLASS. I couldn’t believe it. I never come first - but of course it is Casa who came first. She was proudly presented with a certificate and a red rosette, which I placed on her collar to show her wIn. She also won a good supply of food and a place in the Grand Final. If it wasn’t proud of her before, I certainly was now. 

The Grand Final commenced with the winners of all the classes. This time I had to walk around the arena with her. I really had no idea what would happen. She no longer has her harness, that was taken on ‘Retirement’. The hated mobility stick was in my right hand trying to make up for something it could never make up for. Would Casa obey her old commands without her harness and therefore not in ‘work’ mode, Would she get me around the arena with stopping, sniffing, being distracted by other dogs - or worse! (I frantically think when her last ‘Busy’ was?) I needn’t have worried, retired or not, harness or not, Casa took me round the arena faultlessly. 

How do they judge the final, I just didn’t know at all. The results were in. Casa was placed FIRST - BEST IN SHOW.  I was amazed and hugged her, cried, I made the judge cry.

The impact on my life of her retirement goes on, as I learn to function in community which has been Casa’s job for almost 10 years. It’s not easy. My community has changed so much in that time. 

HOWEVER - TO GUIDE DOGS

I would not have had the life I have had for last 10 years wIthout Casa, without you - the Guide Dogs organisation. I include within this all the many volunteers involved in Casa’s life - the volunteers who look after her doggy mum (brood butch holder) and her doggy dad (stud dog holder;) the volunteer puppy walkers who socialised her in the community and gave her the all essential basic training and prepared her for ‘Doggy School’ and to pass her exams to shOw her skills as a guide dog, taught and cared for by paid staff. Finally, the last phase of training, into the community and working with a mobility instructor to bring her up to standard and make sure she was the right dog for me. 

Without Casa my life would have been so very different. I want to thank you, each individual within the organisation, for all you and all the volunteers who work with you, did and do just for me - and others like me. There would have been no ‘Casa’ in my life without you. 

On Saturday we may not have quite made the GUINESS WORLD RECORD but I know you will keep on trying. But what a day we had alongside the general public and their dogs too. 

Casa being awarded ‘BEST IN SHOW’ will never be forgotten. It was the accolade I needed to help me right now in her retirement; but also to remember and give thanks for the many years of service she has given to me. Casa you are truly the BEST GUIDE DOG a girl could ever wish for I thank you from the bottom of my heart. 

Each Guide Dog partnership costs many thousands. I am now on a two year waiting list for a future Guide Dog. That is a measure of the deficit of provision against funding for dogs/ training/ life long care. 

If you can help me at all raise just £50.00 for Guide Dogs, or more - I will thank you most graciously. Each day I have to exist with the hated mobility stick, is a day longer than I would wish. 

Please help me, to help Guide Dogs.