Guide Dogs Cymru

It's Caption Friday! Guide dog puppy Nica, a golden retriever, kept her cool at a recent fun day in Birchgrove, Swansea, by creating her very own tent. What do you suppose Nica is thinking? Comment below!

pic shows golden retriever puppy Nica lying under a table of Guide Dogs merchandise with the Guide Dogs logo on the tablecloth draped perfectly above her head

It’s been a busy month for our Anglesey group, and there’s more to come! Members attended the annual Family Event at RAF Valley, quickly followed by a trip to Cemaes Carnival, where they welcomed many friendly visitors to the Guide Dogs stall. The events raised £351.82 and £329.11 respectively, with guide dog Spirit, retired dog Rigsby and ambassador dog Brynn among the star attractions.

The group’s links to RAF Valley are well-established. Group member Fiona Kilduff said: “Some of the people there remembered Brynn from the previous two years and came to find us and see him again. It makes you feel proud.”

The group welcomed young supporter Sophie Roe to the stall at Cemaes Carnival, where members presented her with a certificate and a goodie bag. Sophie raised £1,000 for Guide Dogs earlier this year with a sponsored walk and a sale of pre-loved goods, speaking about her achievements on S4C. Special mention should also go to volunteer Chris Thorpe, who wore the guide dog suit complete with built-in neck fan!

Members will be busy again this Sunday, August 16 at a table-top sale in Bull Bay Boathouse from noon till 3pm, where visitors can meet retired guide dog Rigsby. This will be followed by a quiz night at The Ring in Rhosgoch from 8.30pm on Wednesday August 26, where guide dog Spirit will make her final appearance with owner Angie Heywood before hanging up her harness and officially retiring.

If you’d like to get involved with your local Guide Dogs group, you’re welcome to find out more by attending an event or visiting the following link:
https://www.guidedogs.org.uk/how-you-can-help/volunteering/be-part-of-a-fundraising-group/

pic 1: Young fundraiser Sophie Roe received a certificate and goodie bag from Guide Dogs volunteer Geoff Garrett

pic 2: Geoff Garrett wearing the guide dog suit

pic 3: Angie Heywood and guide dog Spirit at the stall

It's such a small world! Trainee guide dog Pam has been enjoying a break with fosterers Jess and Lewis in Blue Anchor. They stopped at a local cafe and bumped into Iris, a fellow Guide Dogs volunteer. With her, she had guide dog puppy Quigley, a seven- month-old golden retriever, and retired guide dog Kim, a labrador cross golden retriever. Iris told the couple she had raised 31 guide dog puppies, and previously fostered Nancy, one of Pam’s pals in advanced training in Cardiff. Jess said: "It's a small world! Pam, Quigley and Kim had a lovely time meeting each other."

If you'd like to join our community of Guide Dogs volunteers and make new friends, why not explore what's on offer? Find out more by visiting this link: https://www.guidedogs.org.uk/how-you-can-help/volunteering/

pic 1: fosterer Lewis with black labrador cross retriever Pam and golden retriever guide dog puppy Quigley
pic 2: Quigley looks up at the camera

Guide Dogs would like to pay tribute to popular volunteer David Nash, who passed away peacefully at home on Sunday. David and his wife Janice were key members of Guide Dogs groups in South Wales and in Bristol, where they previously lived. They welcomed scores of dogs and puppies into their home over the years and helped to raise more than £200,000 for Guide Dogs in Bristol South alone.

The couple retired to Llantwit Major to be nearer family, which saw David take on the role of treasurer for the Bridgend and Newport groups. He attended fundraising events and gave talks as a Guide Dogs speaker, often taking his latest canine companion along with him. He and Janice had recently rehomed Fisher, a withdrawn puppy they had raised.

David was a retired management system consultant, but he was also a talented organist and a member of two local choirs – Bridgend Tabernacle Choir and Llantrisant Male Voice Choir, where his son Matthew is musical director. Both choirs will sing at his funeral, which takes place on Wednesday September 2 at 11am in Bridgend Crematorium. Volunteers who wish to attend are encouraged to wear Guide Dogs clothing as a tribute to a dedicated and much-loved friend.

pic 1: David Nash with the life-sized collecting dog at the Princess of Wales Hospital in Bridgend
pic 2: David and Janice Nash with guide dog puppy Justin, a black shepherd cross retriever
pic 3: David Nash with tiny chocolate labrador guide dog puppy Rupert in the Physic Garden, Cowbridge
pic 4: Janice and David Nash at Dyffryn Gardens
pic 5: David Nash standing on the Heritage Coast with guide dog puppies Rupert and Merlin (German Shepherd dog)

Guide dog owner Lucy Hobson has just become the first vision-impaired woman to reach the summit of the Zinalrothorn, a 4,221m-high mountain in the Swiss Alps. It’s a tough and dangerous climb, but Lucy, a para climber with Team GB, was able to prepare by tackling Pen-y-fan and Eryri, also known as Snowdonia.

Lucy, who works as a care navigator with the NHS, is from Stockport but has strong Welsh connections. Her aunt, Sally Hobson, is a volunteer with our Newport group, and her father, David, grew up in Cwmbran. David said: “We always supported Guide Dogs but never thought that one day Lucy would have one. We didn’t realise how transformative a guide dog would be.

“Jenny is such an enthusiastic dog that she had to go to the right person. She also features on the Christmas cards that Lucy makes each year to raise money for the local Guide Dogs group. She's staying with family while Lucy is away.”

Climbing Zinalrothorn completes a series of three tough challenges which have seen Lucy raise an amazing £3,198 for Guide Dogs. If you’d like to help her raise even more, please visit this link: https://bit.ly/45Sz1xC

[Visual descriptions: Image shows a smiling Lucy wearing a red jacket and helmet standing triumphantly on a rocky mountain peak, holding onto a wooden cross. Another mountain peak is prominently visible in the background, surrounded by clouds and Lucy holds her hand in front of it as if tapping the top of the mountain.

Handsome trainee London is making good progress with Valleys-based GDMS Sarah Fullstone, but he hasn't forgotten his pals in Cardiff! The yellow labrador cross retriever popped into our centre this week and was treated to a special outing courtesy of dog wellbeing technician Leah Ryan. They enjoyed a shady run out at Parc Cefn Onn where they explored the woods, found some sculptures and contemplated going for a swim in the pond. London impressed us all by practising his chin rest on a park bench. Well done, London boy!

When he's not in training, London loves spending time with his foster family, who are playing a vital role in his guide dog journey. If you'd love the company of a well-mannered dog like London, there's a chance to find out more by joining a special webinar on Monday August 24 between noon and 1.30pm. Here's the link to register:
https://www.facebook.com/events/1054084413901928/?acontext=%7B%22source%22%3A%2229%22%2C%22ref_notif_type%22%3A%22events_respond_page_cohost%22%2C%22action_history%22%3A%22null%22%7D¬if_id=1785318108957084¬if_t=events_respond_page_cohost&ref=notif

pic 1: Yellow labrador cross retriever London lying on dry grass with purple and yellow flowers in the background
pic 2: London discovers a wooden sculpture in Parc Cefn Onn
pic 3: London practises his chin rest on a park bench
pic 4: London sitting on a shady path through the park

Amanda Mostyn and guide dog Eddie are in demand! Following her live interview with BBC Radio Wales this morning, Amanda's been invited to share her experience of the recent hot weather with the UK-wide audience. Tune in to BBC Radio 5 Live after 10pm tonight (Tuesday), when Amanda will tell presenter Johnny I'Anson how a heatwave affects the life of a guide dog and owner in North Wales.

pic: Amanda Mostyn sitting indoors with golden retriever guide dog Eddie

Our young trainees really benefit from experiencing new sights and sounds with their fosterers. Gem, a yellow labrador cross retriever, enjoyed a weekend camping trip in rural Wales with fosterers Matthew and Tracey. She rounded it off with a cooling dip in the river and a trip to Hay-on-Wye, famous for its bookstores.

If you'd like to introduce a trainee guide dog to new sights and sounds, why not explore the role of fosterer? We have a special webinar on Monday August 24 from noon to 1.30pm when would-be fosterers can find out what the role entails. Here's the link to register:
https://www.facebook.com/events/1054084413901928/?acontext=%7B%22source%22%3A%2229%22%2C%22ref_notif_type%22%3A%22events_respond_page_cohost%22%2C%22action_history%22%3A%22null%22%7D¬if_id=1785318108957084¬if_t=events_respond_page_cohost&ref=notif

pic 1: Gem sits calmly in the town of Hay-on-Wye, famous for its books
pic 2: Gem takes a paddle in the river
pic 3 and 4: Gem finds a shady spot on the campsite

Happy Tongue Out Tuesday! Training dog Candie, a black labrador cross retriever, looks happy as she enjoys a day out at a trout farm with her foster family. She could probably catch a fish with that candy-pink tongue!