Light into Europe Charity

Guide dogs for the blind

A real life changing difference

Light into Europe Charity

We want a society in which blind and partially sighted people enjoy the same freedom of movement as everyone else!
Light into Europe is the only charity dedicated to develop support programs and activities for the sensory impaired children and young adults in Romania. All of our activities, programs, partnerships and fundraising have one overall purpose: to reach children and young people with sight or hearing loss who face more barriers than most of us and to help them with information, equipment, suitable education and to lead them to independent and positive lives. This is what Guide Dogs for the Blind Program is about to deliver guide dog service and other mobility services, as well as breaking down barriers - both physical and legal in order to enable blind and partially-sighted people to get around on their own and live an independent and productive life. Over the past few years we have grown from strength to strength and thanks to your continuous generosity each year we have made considerable progress.

Guide dogs for the Blind

What is a Guide Dog? People who cannot see at all, or whose sight is very poor, can find some things hard to do, without some help. One of their biggest challenges is getting around. Imagine crossing a busy road when you cant see the traffic. Imagine walking past bus stops, parked cars, push chairs and bicycles that you cannot see. Guide Dogs are carefully trained service animals used as travel tools by people who are blind. A guide dog enables its blind or partially-sighted owner to get around safely and independently. What does a guide dog do? A guide dog is trained to guide its owner in a straight line unless told otherwise, avoiding obstacles on the route. It will stop at kerbs and steps, and find doors, crossings and places which are visited regularly. It will guide the sight impaired person across the road, but it is up to him/ her to decide where and when to cross safely. Training guide dogs Training guide dogs involves many activities, from breeding and training guide dogs, puppy-walking (volunteers foster the puppies for socialisation), matching guide dogs to owners, training partnerships throughout the partnership, which averages around 7 years, and through to rehoming and retirement. 3

Light into Europe Charity

What types of dogs are used? World wide Guide Dogs for the Blind organisations mainly use Labradors, Golden Retrievers and crosses of these two breeds. There is a small number of other breeds that they use less frequently. Different breeds of dog have different characteristics and the blind persons mobility requirements, environment and physical ability will determine the most appropriate type of dog for him/ her. Does the blind person need any training to use the guide dog? Training is as important for the sighted impaired person as it is for the dog. The dog will have been trained to respond to specific commands and directions and the blind person will need to learn these in order to make the dog work for him/ her. It is also an important time to build the bond with the dog so that it takes responsibility for guiding the person. Training programmes are individually designed in order to meet the needs of the blind person and his dog and usually involve some residential training. During the training the new owner will undertake walks with his dog. These will give the blind person the opportunity to practise the techniques he/ she will need and gain experience working with the dog successfully in a variety of environments and everyday situations. The sight impaired person will also cover areas such as grooming, feeding, obedience, understanding dog behaviour, cleaning up after the dog and general dog-handling skills.

Guide dogs for the Blind

How long does the dog work for and what happens at the end of its working life? The guide dog is usually between eighteen months and two years old when it finishes its formal training and it will work for approximately seven to eight years. At the end of its working life the guide dog owner may decide to keep the dog, or may know of a friend or family member who would adopt the dog. Remember! Guide dogs and their owners undergo rigorous training to work safely and effectively as a team. Concentration is essential when a person travels with a guide dog. Petting, feeding, or distracting a guide dog disrupts concentration and can cause serious danger. People develop a very close relationship with their guide dogs, which in itself can be an extremely rewarding and fulfilling experience. A guide dog is not always working, so owners will spend a lot of their time relaxing and playing with their guide dog and ensuring the dog receives the attention it needs. This also helps establish a level of respect and trust between the dog and owner which is needed when they are out working together.

Light into Europe Charity

Guide dogs for the blind Program in Romania Light into Europe Charity is member of European Guide Dogs Federation, and collaborates with Guide dogs for the blind associations from other countries like U.K., Malta and Croatia. In 2009, one of our sight impaired beneficiaries, a Romanian young lady, Petra Pintelei, represented Romania at the European Parliament, and had a speech about the importance of a guide dog in a blind persons life and the desperate need of having lows that would allowed guide dogs and their owners in public places, or anywhere they have to travel, in order to have an independent and productive life. But the most important thing is that two years ago, Light into Europe Charity started training the first guide dog for the blind in Romania. Today, Chloe has finished her training as a guide dog and has started training with her future owner, a 50 years old blind gentleman, Mr. Gabriel Nicolescu. After three months of intensive training, between Chloe and Mr Nicolescu has established a great bound based on care, respect and trust.
I have always been an animal lover. I was very happy when Light into Europe Charity chose me for Chloe. In the last few weeks my life has radically changed. I have more hope now then I had before. Chloe has become my friend and more than that, my eyes. Mr. Gabriel Nicolescu, Chloes owner.

Guide dogs for the Blind

In May, last year, we have brought up from Zagreb, Croatia Midnight, a new puppy dog. She will not only be a guide dog, but also the mother of our guide dogs stock here in Romania. In fact, we have recently took her to Zagreb again, where she met a male friend, and right now, she is safely back in Romania, expecting puppies, somewhere by the end of July, or beginning of August. Also, as a member of EGDF (European Guide Dogs Federation), Light into Europe Charity is also part of the Mobility Access Working Group, and has participated to several meetings regarding the free access of people with disabilities and their guide dogs in all social contexts, without any discrimination. Also, this year, the EGDF Annual General Meeting will take place in Bucharest,, in October, 7th 9th. We will use this opportunity for more awareness and visibility of people with visual impairments and the importance of the guide dogs for the blind in Romania.
Chloe and Mr Nicolescu in training

Light into Europe Charity

This material is offered to you by:

Light into Europe Charity

Supporting the Romanian Sensory Impaired Children and Young People For more informations about the sight impairment, special services and equipments, you can contact us at: Light into Europe Resource Center, 35 Clabucet Street, Bucharest Tel. 021-224 46 08 Fax 021-224 47 93 E-mail office@lightintoeurope.org www.lightintoeurope.org