Puppyhood to Partnership 2019

PD: A Golden Labrador Seeing Eye Dog in training harness looking straight at camera.

On Saturday, Vision Australia Seeing Eye Dogs held its inaugural “From Puppyhood to Partnership” national event.

This event celebrated the matching of newly qualified Seeing Eye Dogs to clients that had taken place during the previous six months.  Carers, clients and the expert team at Seeing Eye Dogs were also recognised for their hard work in making these partnerships a reality.

Leah, who was matched with Seeing Eye Dog Harlow in December last year, hopes that the carers who helped make Harlow the dog she is today realise how appreciated their efforts truly are.

“I think it’s recognition of the work everyone has put in to get Harlow to this point. I’m lucky to have a dog that is so amazingly well trained and behaved and I can take none of the credit. It’s also a great opportunity to thank the carers that have taken the time to get her to where she is[SM1] .”

[SM2] 

PD: Chief Instructor & Program Development Manager Patrick Glines kicks off proceedings by welcoming everyone to the event.

PD: Vision Australia CEO Ron Hooton welcomes everyone to the event from on stage.

PD: Seeing Eye Dog Trainee Instructor Carly Gregorich provides a training demonstration with SED Falcon in the world-class Mobility Training Centre. SED Falcon and Carly stopped next to a traffic light.

PD: Claire, Mark, Debra and Jennifer, four of the graduates, crouch with their four Seeing Eye Dogs: Willow, Miller, Royce and Jedda.

PD: Graduates and other staff members on a television screen enjoying the celebrations around a table with a cake on it.

Not all of the graduates were able to attend so, thanks to technology, others joined via live video feeds: Pam and SED Jock from WA, Kathleen and Quigley, and Leah with SED Harlow – both teams from New South Wales.

Also celebrating their new partnerships are: Ray and SED Gerry, Donna and SED Major, Nick and SED Ruben and Sam with SED Lucky from Victoria as well as Malcolm with SED Franklin and Alan and SED Xenon, both from Queensland.

“It’s important that we celebrate, not only the dog and the client that are matched, but also the countless hours that our volunteers contribute, and that our expert trainers and instructors provide day after day to ensure that our Seeing Eye Dogs are the best in class for years to come,” says David Speyer, General Manager, Vision Australia Seeing Eye Dogs

From all of us at Vision Australia Seeing Eye Dogs, we offer our deepest thanks to those that help us to care for and train our dogs, and those that will see the benefit of these dogs for years to come.

None of this would have been possible without the generous support of our donors, and our amazing partners Royal Canin, Petbarn and Green Cross Vets.

Vision Australia Seeing Eye Dogs can be reached via phone on 1800 037 773 or online at www.sed.visionaustralia.org.

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