Blog Posts
A STORY OF SEVEN WEEKS, BY GILL SHEPPARD, CHAIRMAN, SEEING DOGS 9th September 2021 It is often said that troubles come in threes. Well, it’s true – at least, it was for me back in the spring. Census time was approaching and the Government had provided a helpline for those like me who cannot manage digital or paper to complete the census over the… 
Meet Sue Scott, our new Seeing Dogs Instructor 7th September 2021 Hi, my name is Sue Scott, and I am delighted to be joining the team at Seeing Dogs Alliance as a Seeing Dog Instructor. To give you some insight to my background and experience, in 1988 I started working at Guide Dogs, where my career initially began as a member… 
What people really think and say about Seeing Dogs, by Neil Ewart 2nd September 2021 I finally retired from Guide Dogs over a decade ago. By then changes were in my opinion getting out of control at GDBA and it was evident there was no place for me from the “old school” in the new organisation. I had heard of another organisation in existence called… 
Why sighted and visually impaired people need to address access refusal, should they encounter it 22nd August 2021 If you were shocked and disappointed by the story that made national headlines this month about a blind woman who was left shocked and humiliated after two Leicester Square restaurants would not allow her and her family to eat there with their guide dogs.https://www.swlondoner.co.uk/news/12082021-blind-woman-shocked-and-humiliated-after-restaurants-refuse-guide-dogs-entry/Whilst both restaurants responded to the distressing… 
Why volunteering does good and feels good, by Esther Porta, Seeing Dogs Volunteer 17th August 2021 As a PR consultant for over 26 years, my work often involves working long hours with international high-profile brands and media to address complicated issues, often demanding fast-turnaround, precision, accuracy and, always, sensitivity and understanding. However, I have been involved in volunteering for years now, and there's always a… 
Do you want to support Seeing Dogs? Be inspired by 10 amazing fundraising ideas! 5th August 2021 Would you like to raise money to support Seeing Dogs but don’t know where to start? Why not be inspired by these 10 fundraising ideas and help raise much-needed funds for the charity which trains and delivers seeing dog partnerships to assist people with visual impairments to live and… 
Neil Ewart has been a Trustee for Seeing Dogs for since 2010. Here, he shares why his passion for Seeing Dogs is here to stay – and why Seeing Dogs needs you! 4th August 2021 What do I most enjoy about being a Seeing Dogs Trustee? It’s about the people – and dogs, of course! The users, trainers, dog breeders, puppy walkers and everyone we work with to support! Over a decade ago I retired from Guide Dogs for The Blind after spending decades training… 
How things first began, by Gill Sheppard, Chairman, Seeing Dogs 26th July 2021 Readers of a certain age may remember a BBC Schools’ broadcast of that name. But we are not going back into prehistory, just to the final years of the last century! At that time, several committee members of the Circle of Guide Dog Owners (COGDO) were becoming increasingly dissatisfied with… 
The joys of puppy rearing, by Seeing Dogs’ puppy walker, Margaret Atkins 23rd July 2021 Andy is the third puppy that we have reared for Seeing Dogs Alliance. He is by far the smallest puppy that we have reared and currently weighs only 23Kg, despite the fact that he is now 11 months old and fully grown. He has so much character, and is clever,… 
Dogs’ sixth sense? by Seeing Dogs’ Trustee, Neil Eward 21st July 2021 I tuned in to a local radio station the other day and they were holding a phone-in discussing whether dogs and other animals see ghosts! It was actually quite interesting and, unusually, most of calls were quite sensible. Opinions were, naturally, varied. Most of those who said it was rubbish… 
In Defence of Dogs, by Neil Ewart 21st July 2021 Shortly after the American Civil War the owner of a dog took a third party to Johnson County Court in America. A suit for damages for the killing of another person’s dog was the charge. The owner denied his dog was aggressive, but some evidence showed that the defendant had… 
July training updates from our Seeing Dog Mobility Instructor, John Grave 21st July 2021 The charity is pleased to announce the recent qualification of Loany Febac! This is Loany’s second dog from Seeing Dogs, and her puppy was reared by Margaret Atkins. Loany’s old dog, Marvin, can now enjoy his well-earned retirement as Otis takes up the lead on their new chapter together. Thank…