Guide dogs and handlers take to streets of Perth
Session to raise public awareness
Published:
A GROUP of guide dogs and handlers yesterday took the lead in a public awareness-raising session in Perth.
As part of Guide Dog Week, members of the east of Scotland district team were in town to give hints and tips on how to provide sighted guide assistance. They handed out information leaflets as well as complimentary Sighted Guiding DVDs to the public and local service providers.
There was also the chance to learn more about fundraising and volunteering opportunities, and see stages of the dogs’ training process from pups through to fully-fledged guide dogs.
The team’s main aim was to highlight that in some situations people with sight loss need an extra helping hand, even if they have a guide dog or use a cane.
Problems can arise in busy, cluttered high streets, at busy road junctions or in crowded shops.
“In our increasingly busy and complex town environments, guide dog owners and cane users can need extra help to safely negotiate their way around,” said district team manager Ian Flanigan.
“By learning the simple guiding techniques detailed in our DVD and leaflet, many more people from the Perth area can provide this important assistance to local blind and partially-sighted people.”
The DVD and leaflet clearly illustrate helpful hints to give people confidence in applying guiding techniques, as well as highlighting good practice in approaching and assisting a guide dog owner.
They can be ordered from the charity’s website at www.guidedogs.org.uk /guidedogweek, or by calling 0870 240 6993.
