Events

Celebrating the Guide Dog journey

Thank you to all our supporters for coming to the M Litter graduation and celebration of the Guide Dog journey at the Hotel Grand Chancellor today.

Your amazing suppawt of Guide Dogs touches us all. With your help we can change lives. We decided to change the day to Howl-o-Ween instead of Halloween in honour of the celebration.

The Chief Executive Officer of Guide Dogs SA/NT, Aaron Chia, said it was great to see so many puppy sponsors and corporate supporters in the one place.

“It really does bring home in a visual way your spirit of generosity and sense of community,” he said. “After all, you are a critical part of the Guide Dogs journey. Your support and passion is heartfelt and it means a lot to us.”

Aaron said the journey of every puppy was different and many people needed Guide Dogs help.

“To watch a team in action – a person with vision loss working seamlessly with their dog after training and an exacting matching process; it’s something that makes us realise why we do what we do,” he said.

“So too, to witness the calming influence of an Autism Assistance Dog when a young child is coping with sensory overload the only way they know how – by having a meltdown; it’s because of this we know why we come to work each and every day.”

The graduating dogs were Milan as a Brood Mother, Metro as our first Stud Dog, Memphis and Major training to become Guide Dogs and Mawd and Monty enjoying life as much adored pets.

We also met Nina who is changing a young family’s life as a Pets as Therapy Dog, Ruby graduating as a Brood Mother, Indigo who is a Guide Dog changing Pam’s life, as is Helix who has been matched with young musician Arron.

Autism Assistance Dogs Frosty and Jet were also awarded rawhide bones with red and gold ribbons to mark their graduation.

Natalie also spoke from the heart about puppy raising Memphis and her sadness to say goodbye, but also the joy of what he will achieve for someone who is living with vision impairment.

Arron wowed the audience with his rendition of the Crowded House song Better be Home Soon, a tribute to his Guide Dog Helix.

Finally, Lenny had his day in the spotlight, graduating as our Ambassadog.