Berwick woman reveals guide dog has changed her life, as appeal launched for more puppy-raisers
'I used to hit kerbs, and bins and lamp-posts...'
Last updated 13th Nov 2024
A Berwick woman is opening up on the loss of her sight in the hope of encouraging more people to volunteer their time to help train a guide dog.
Wendy Graham Weston had enjoyed a busy life working as a chef in the Lake District and travelling the world before developing a life-threatening brain condition which, as she put it, "killed the optic nerves" to her eyes.
She was given a white cane to help her get around, but revealed she was too scared to leave the house until she was paired with her four-legged friend.
"I was 50 when I got my first guide dog," Wendy told Greatest Hits Radio. "I'm 62 now.
"It gives you your independence back, and to me that's the biggest thing.
"I never felt safe just having this white cane. I used to hit kerbs, and bins and lamp-posts."
Wendy revealed there was a wait of around 16 months to be paired with her first guide dog.
"The main thing is getting out and about, and being able to go out with friends; enjoying life and having a life," she explained. "Whereas, with the white cane, I didn't have a life. It was very difficult.
"Now I do everything with Annie - I run my own fundraising group for guide dogs; holiday; go shopping. She's my best friend."
Wendy met local puppy-raisers - and prospective puppy-raisers - at a special event at Tillmouth Village Hall, near Cornhill-on-Tweed, earlier today (Wednesday).
She added: "When I lost my sight I was frightened to go out the house, even if I was with someone. Now I'll go anywhere; I'm back to me, I'm back to being Wendy."
WATCH: Could Berwick Rangers become the new Wrexham?
The Guide Dogs for the Blind Association revealed it hopes to recruit as many as 20 new puppy-raisers in the Scottish Borders and North Northumberland to help keep up with demand.
Shannon Butler, the charity's local volunteering attraction co-ordinator, explains what the role entails: "Their main aim is to socialise them - raise them with some basic training, and learn them some of the early commands.
"Our puppy-raisers can have puppies from eight to ten-weeks-old, for 12 to 16 months; so they have them for the first big part of their life.
"I've heard of puppy-raisers going to the theatre, shops, cafes, supermarkets, buses, trains, planes if they can, just so that when the puppy goes onto its next stage of training - and onto working life - it's prepared for anything."
To find out more, or to volunteer, call 0345 1430191 or email: volunteer@guidedogs.org.uk
For more stories from the Scottish Borders and North Northumberland, bookmark our new home page - https://hellorayo.co.uk/greatest-hits/borders/news/