A Guide Dog Mobility Instructor visited me at home and we did a short handle walk, the handle being a shorter version of the handle used on a guide dog harness. I held one end while the instructor held the other, we started walking with the instructor walking slightly ahead of me winding from one side to the other until we reached the end of our road then we stopped at the kerb, this was followed by more tests. They needed to find out what sort of person I was and to obtain information that would help them to decide what sort of dog would be suitable for me. Eventually, I received a letter informing me that I had been put on the waiting list for a Guide Dog. The hunt was now on to find a dog with the appropriate physical and temperamental characteristics to match my special needs
About nine months later, I received a phone call from Guide Dogs informing me that they believe they have found a potential guide dog for me and arrangements were made for the Guide Dog Instructor to bring the dog to my home to see if we would be a successful match. I will call him “K”, he was black, a cross Labrador and golden retriever and he was a lovely and a handsome dog. I liked him and knew that he was the one for me and now it was time for us all to go for a walk. This was the first time that I walked with a guide dog, I really could not concentrate as I was so excited and thrilled to meet the chosen dog and there was so many things that I had to think about. We took “K” home to meet my husband, Ronald. The Guide dog instructor told me that “K” would be anxious and possibly nervous because he did not really understand what was happening. She described to me how he may react and you know that is exactly what he did but after a few minutes he introduced himself to my husband who returned the favour and then” K” came and sat next to me. He was so lovely and I knew that he was the dog for me but it was not until the next day that I was told that he would be my guide dog.
The training was due to start on 18th October 2010 but before then during a visit to the surgery my world collapsed because I was told that I needed to go into the hospital for an operation. I told my guide dog trainer and she explained that I would have to give up “K”, I knew this because I was told that it would be at least three months before I would be fit again; life can be so cruel.
An appointment was made for me to see a consultant on 28th October 2010 and it was confirmed that I would need an operation which was arranged for 21st December but luck was on my side because the following Monday, I was told that they had a cancellation and did I want it. I went to the hospital for an assessment on 3rd November and had the operation on the 4th of November, I was well looked after and the nursing staff and medical staff were made aware of my disabilities and I returned home the following Monday and about four months later I informed Guide Dogs that I was fit again; a few weeks later I was back on the waiting list.
I am still waiting for the call to say that they have found a dog for me, I do not mind waiting but I cannot deny that I am really looking forward to the next stage of my training.
