Cute and loving guides
PAULSHOF - The South African Guide Dog Association is the only guide and service dog association in Africa.
The association has been assisting the blind and physically disabled since the 50s by providing highly trained service dogs.
The association was founded in 1954 by Gladys Evans after she noticed the desperate need for guide dogs in South Africa.
Today, the association has grown exponentially with branches in Durban and Cape Town. There are more than 100 administrative volunteers and private breeders from whom they source their dogs.
The association has developed a successful process in maintaining the quality of their guide dogs. Service dog trainer Maxine Geddie said newborn puppies were sourced and taken care of at their centre, and at about seven to eight weeks old, the puppies live with experienced volunteer families called puppy walkers. The walkers teach the dogs basic socialising skills and discipline. After a year the puppies are brought back to the training centre to learn the basics of being a guide or service dog.
Service dogs are a bit more playful and are confident about learning and utilising skills such as opening washing machine doors and fetching items off the floor.
Guide dogs are much more focused and are insusceptible to distraction as their primary goal is to lead the blind across busy roads.
With a great deal of support coming from all over the country, the association has held fundraisers and events to raise awareness regarding the useful ownership of a loving and intelligent guide dog.
