Guide dogs lead the way during graduation ceremony in Paulshof
PAULSHOF – After months of training, these guide dogs will help the visually impaired in their new journey in life.
Photo: Khomotso Makgabutlane
The first guide-dog graduation ceremony of the year for the Class of 2020 was held on 22 February at the South African Guide-Dogs Association for the Blind.
Families and puppy raisers handed over their dogs to their excited new owners after months of training to fulfil their guide-dog duties.
The executive director of the SA Guide-Dogs Association for the Blind, Vernon Tutton, spoke at the ceremony and explained the work put into training the dogs. “We spend a lot of time with the dogs trying to put them on the right track. The puppy raisers take the dogs and then will come back for training and evaluation. They will be matched with the appropriate person based on many different things.
“The puppy raisers really do a great job and it is hard for them to let them go,” said Tutton.
The association has four departments available – guide dogs, service dogs, autism support, orientation and mobility.
Salome Ntsoelengoe, the orientation and mobility liaison, spoke about what they do at the SA Guide-Dogs Association for clients.”We teach blind people to be independent and show you that life still goes on. Once you have accepted your condition, then I step in and teach you everything,” she said.
“We go out to the community and clinics. Because they know their patients, they get referred to us.”
Pieter van Niekerk, head of public relations, gave a word of thanks to everyone supported the association throughout the years.
Absa board member Pierre Bornman and Boehringer Ingelheim representative Stephanie Walker were among the sponsors who received a certificate of appreciation by the association for their work. The Jamieson family, Wilds Lions Club, the Thursday Club, Sharon Mcgregor, and Kathleen Sowersby were also thanked for their support.
Lynne and Ray Kinsman raised their 14th guide dog and handed Flora, or better known to them as Fuzzy Flora, to Amy-Louise van der Merwe
Nicole Susman and her husband Marcus are also puppy raisers who attended the graduation ceremony. Walking out of the building, they guided Sandra Tyler, a visually impaired woman, up the slope toward their car.
The Susman’s raised Tarpon, and with them was Tyler who flew from Durban to pick up Tarpon.
“It was a beautiful ceremony and we loved raising Tarpon,” said Nicole. They both trusted that Tarpon will definitely help Tyler on her journey forward.
More guide dogs will be graduating at the next ceremony to take place on 4 April.
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