A woman who lost her sight has described how her independence “slipped away” as she was left without a guide dog for almost three years.
Louise Jenkins, from Ceredigion, lost her sight 18 years ago and has depended on the help of guide dogs to get her out and about. When Louise’s dog Trinity was forced to retire due to a bad back Louise was stuck in a difficult position. For nearly three years the 57-year-old was without a guide dog.
Louise said: “I found life without a guide dog horrendous in every single way. I was stuck in the house every day after work. During that time my husband had to move into a nursing home. I had to use a long cane to get out and it was a struggle. Your independence slips away.
“Waiting for the telephone to ring with the news I was getting a new dog was agonising. The not knowing was awful. I became depressed. I was so isolated.”
The housing officer finally got the call from Guide Dogs UK in February and was partnered up with her new dog Sian. “When I got the call I was ecstatic. The first thing I did with Sian was hop on a bus and go and visit my husband Adrian at his nursing home in Carmarthen. I also realised I was able to go out and grab a bar of chocolate whenever I fancied it,” said Louise.
“Having a guide dog is so important. It’s been a tough few years and I’ve felt so helpless. Sian has given me my independence back. She makes it worth getting up in the morning. Life is short and it is wasted being stuck at home. When I tell people about our walks in the rain I always get asked: ‘Why are you out in that weather?’ But when you’ve been stuck inside for so long the weather just doesn’t matter.” Louise is also excited about visiting her granddaughter who is two years old – something she hasn’t
been able to do without help since her granddaughter’s birth.
The wait for a guide dog varies and can be affected by different factors, including the number of available dogs and the number of people waiting for a guide dog in your area. A spokesman from Guide Dogs Cymru said: “We understand how difficult it must be for someone
with sight loss who is used to getting around with a guide dog to be without one temporarily. However the process of matching a person with a guide dog is complex and we want every
partnership to succeed. This means the person and the guide dog must be compatible in character, temperament, lifestyle and environment. Each case is treated individually so we carefully assess the
needs of every person. Our priority is creating a sustainable partnership which benefits both the person and the guide dog.”
To thank Guide Dogs Cymru for their support Louise is completing a series of 10km races to raise money for the charity. She ran the Cardiff Bay 10k on March 26 in just over an hour with the help of a guide runner. She is also planning to run the Newport, Porthcawl, and Barry Island 10k races.
Louise said: “My previous guide dog, Trinity, is enjoying her retirement with one of my friends. I’d like to raise enough money to name a guide dog puppy after her to thank her for keeping me safe all those years.”
If you’d like to donate to Louise’s fundraiser for Guide Dogs UK click here.
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