New guide dog training centre will help more blind people (From The Bolton News)

New guide dog training centre will help more blind people

7:40pm Tuesday 7th October 2008

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A NEW state-of-the-art guide dog training centre will help transform the lives of hundreds of blind people in Bolton and the North-west when it opens next year.

The multi-million pound facility will replace the 50-year-old training school at Nuffield House in Lowndes Street.

The charity says the £6.5 million centre being built in Gibfield Park, Atherton, will allow it to train up 345 guide dogs a year, compared to 260 at the moment, thanks to more kennel space and all-weather training facilities.

Yesterday, it launched an appeal to raise £650,000 to provide the centre with everything from exercise ramps to a hydrotherapy unit for injured dogs, to technology that monitors behaviour and matches dogs to suitable owners.

Guide dog-user Christine Gregory, a 49-year-old mum-of-two from Westhoughton, said she was pleased that more blind people would benefit.

Mrs Gregory, who was given her first dog 20 years ago, said: “When I was told I had retinitis pigmentosa it was devastating. I was 26 and the consultant said my sight would probably go in my early 40s but could go tomorrow.

“I thought my life had finished, I had no idea what to do. But I turned to the Guide Dogs and they put me on the list for a dog.

“I hadn’t been out for such a long time but when I managed to, with my first dog, I was elated.”

Mrs Gregory, whose current dog Shane is her fourth, added: “Guide dogs give you independence and confidence, which are the biggest things, but they also become a good mate.

“I can’t emphasise how important guide dogs are and how supportive staff at the training school have been.”

The charity’s dog supply manager, Yvonne Cheetham, said the move would allow more dogs to be trained in a shorter period, with more training on-site rather than in public areas.

Ms Cheetham said greater space at the Atherton site would allow real-life scenarios and obstacles such as stairs, pelican crossings and bus-stops to remain permanently set up, saving valuable time.

She added: “I can’t overstate the impact each dog we train will have on people’s lives and Atherton will change what we can do.”

The new building is due to open next May, with the Bolton centre’s 28 dog trainers and support staff moving over. To find out how you can help the charity reach its £650,000 target, call 0870 600 2323 or visit guidedogs.org.uk/athertonappeal

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