International Guide Dog Day

International Guide Dog Day will be recognised all over the world on Wednesday 30 April, allowing people to celebrate the contribution Guide Dogs make in assisting people with blindness or vision impairment to get around safely and independently every day.

Guide Dogs spokesperson Manisha Amin says “On this day it is important for the community to remember that Guide Dogs and their users can go anywhere.

“Unfortunately not everyone is aware of this and discrimination against Guide Dog users does still occur” continued Amin.

Working Guide Dogs can legally accompany their owner on all public transport, and in all public places including shopping centres, cinemas, restaurants, and beaches.

Australia’s first Guide Dog user Arnold Cook had been studying in England during the 1940’s and quickly recognized the practicalities of obtaining a Guide Dog to assist him in navigating the busy streets of London. A man of action, he went on to set up the first Guide Dog training centre in Australia in 1951.

Guide Dogs undergo rigorous training to ensure they have the ability to focus on their work in public places which can be noisy and distracting. It takes approximately two years to fully raise and train each Guide Dog. Not every Guide Dog in training graduates and only those with the right personality and a willingness to please and learn are selected.

For more information please visit Guide Dogs Australia.