by Your News Hound on July 16, 2010
Fundraising with a splash!
The early part of this month saw more than £12,000 raised for Guide Dogs in London Docklands when participants were rescued from the Thames by 14-stone Newfoundland dogs!
Jumping to the challenge was a mixture of volunteers, business men from the surrounding companies, Thames Division police officers and Guide Dogs staff. There were also some keen Newfoundland dog fans that came along to jump. Those who braved the Thames waters ranged from age 15 to in their 60s.
The Newfoundland rescue dogs had their paws at the ready as ‘volunteers’ threw themselves into the water to experience the life-saving qualities of these exceptional canines.
Guide Dogs disabled office volunteer Danny Day who is a wheelchair user said: “Jumping into the River Thames made feel that I wasn’t disabled anymore! It made me feel that I was part of the team or someone able-bodied. I can’t really describe it, and it was unbelievable, exciting, and brilliant and if it wasn’t for me volunteering at Guide Dogs then I would never have had the chance to do something like this and I thank everyone at Guide Dogs for giving me the chance. What a brilliant organisation to be a part of. “
by Your News Hound on February 6, 2010
How many times have you wondered about having a dog? How many times have you asked your parents for a dog? Too many probably. We know how you feel.
If you can’t have the real thing there are a number of things you can do.
If you cannot commit for a long time, but are happy to put time and effort, you could volunteer to be a puppy walker for Guide Dogs. You’d have the puppy, that is training to become a guide dog, teach them basic commands and routines for about a year before they go on to training in one of the Guide Dogs schools. How does that sound?
If that’s too much of a commitment – you can always go to your local animal shelter and borrow a dog. In fact you can borrow a dog and take them for a walk with us (www.gowalkies.org.uk).
Another option, if the two above are not possible is to sponsor a dog. Not just any dog – sponsor a dog that is training to become a guide dog – sponsor a guide dog puppy. (Did we mention sponsoring a puppy makes a great gift for any occasion?)
It’s a 24 months adventure and you get to see in regular Pupdates, how a puppy is growing and training to become a fully fledged guide dog and help change a blind person’s life. It takes a lot of effort, time and many people like puppy walkers and trainers to turn a cute little puppy into a guide dog. And you can help!
