MP supports guide dog owner
Neil Parish, MP for Mid Devon has met with Uffculme resident and guide dog owner, Tilly Trotter, to discuss the recent incident that resulted in her guide dog, Gwyn, having to retire.
Tilly, who is registered blind, relied on Gwyn, a three year old German Shepherd Dog, to guide her.
Tilly and Gwyn were walking in Uffculme when a pet dog attacked Gwyn and as a result of the physical and psychological injuries sustained Gwyn is no longer able to work as a guide dog.
As a result Tilly has lost her independence and is not able to go out safely unless someone is available to guide her.
Neil Parish, who is chairman of the parliamentary All Party Animal Welfare Group, heard about the incident and visited Tilly at her home with Alun Gwernan-Jones, Mobility Team Manager for The Guide Dogs for the Blind Association.
He expressed his sympathy and was able to assure Tilly that he is working to ensure that the Dangerous Dogs Act is amended to make it easier for the police to take action against irresponsible dog owners who do not keep their dogs under control.
Tilly explained that Gwyn, who is the third guide dog she has owned, has made a great difference to her life. It has given her the opportunity to go out independently and Gwyn has also accompanied Tilly on a long distance walk to raise funds for Guide Dogs.
Mr Parish, who is a dog owner, said that he is well aware of the need for the law to be changed. He said: “If the penalties for allowing pet dogs to attack guide dogs and other assistance dogs are increased this will send out a message to irresponsible dog owners which will hopefully reduce the number of such incidents.
"It will also reduce the number of attacks on postal workers which has been giving much cause for concern.”
He is also concerned to ensure that organisations dealing with rehoming of dogs should take steps to ensure that dogs which are known to be vicious are not rehomed with people who are unable to keep them under control. The dog that attacked Gwyn had been acquired from a rehoming organisation who said that the dog was good with other dogs, which was clearly not the case.
Alun Gwernan-Jones, on behalf of Guide Dogs, explained that attacks on Guide Dogs are becoming more frequent. Nationally 10 such attacks are reported each month.
Each Guide Dog costs approximately £50,000 to train and support during its lifetime so every time a dog has to retire as a result of an attack it results in a considerable financial loss to the charity, which receives no government funding and is entirely dependent on donations from supporter.
Hopefully a new guide dog will be found for Tilly in the near future so that she will again be able to get out and about, without having to rely entirely on her husband to guide her.
