How Guide Dogs have changed our life as a family

By: beth

TAGS: motherhood

My gorgeous Guide Dog Teena gives the kids and me so much ability to function on a day-to day-basis. We are able to get to school, go to sporting events, do the shopping, get to medical appointments. And those are just a few of the things Teena helps us do.

The independence I have gained is life-changing for me and my family.

For the many dog lovers out there, I probably don’t need to tell you about the special bond you can have with them. But, for those out there who don’t have a dog I can tell you that Teena is just another member of the family.

But she’s more than that. She’s a working dog and really pulls her weight in the family, not to mention pulling me around, and keeping the children and me safe while she’s at it.

In fact, it is amazing to reflect on the absolute level of trust I place in Teena. Anyone who has had to cross a busy Sydney street will know that you sometimes take your life into your own hands when you do so. In my case, I place my life firmly in Teena’s paws!

This means that we have a special bond and it’s something that the rest of the family shares with me. But don’t get me wrong… she’s not just a serious working dog.

Teena’s just as playful and inquisitive as any other dog – it’s just when she’s working, she’s always on the ball.

Teena will safely pilot the children and me to school, but she’ll also chase every other dog and unsuspecting bird when she’s playing in the park.

And it didn’t take us long to work out that Teena loves having the children around – especially at dinner-time. We noticed she would get very excited and run around the table from time to time. Teena didn’t mean to dob-in the kids. She thought she
was on to a good thing; my little darlings were feeding their vegetables to the dog!

I have the Guide Dog Association of NSW and ACT to thank for bringing Teena into my life. Actually, Teena is the second Guide Dog that I have had. My first dog, Oakes, was a dear friend who unfortunately left us for the big kennel in the sky a couple of years ago.

We miss you big guy.

I also have Kleenex Cottonelle to thank for the ongoing support that allows me to continue to have these special members of the family. These thanks are also extended to everyone else who supports Guide Dogs.

Your generosity goes to training every Guide Dog, which gives people like myself a level of freedom and independence we simply can’t get any other way.

Guide Dogs don’t charge for their services and I don’t think you could ever put a price on the amazing gift that Teena and every Guide Dog is for someone who is blind or vision impaired. But all the training and support does cost money and I’m not being insincere when I express my thanks to everyone who supports this organisation.

I hope I’ve explained, in some small way, the wonderful relationship that I have with my Guide Dog, Teena.

I would love to hear about your own special relationships with your pets. Please leave a comment below and I will ask my husband to read them all out to me.

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