Guide Dog Puppy Appeal
Hundreds of New Zealanders hope to one day be paired with their own guide dog, and to do that, Blind Low Vision NZ Guide Dogs needs your help.
It costs around $175,000 to raise, train and keep one guide dog in service and the organisation receives no government funding.
With the help of donations, Blind Low Vision NZ Guide Dogs can continue to breed and train the next generation of guide dogs so more blind, deafblind, and low vision New Zealanders can live the lives they choose.
Over the month of March, with your help, we support many fundraising events in the community, raising awareness and funds to support our services (thank you!)
Ocean & Lester
This year’s Guide Dog Puppy Appeal centres around the story of Ocean and her guide dog Lester.
Ocean was born with optic nerve hyperplasia, resulting in low vision. As an adult her vision began deteriorating further, and she was told by her doctors that she would eventually lose all her sight.
Since Lester arrived, Ocean’s life has changed dramatically. He helps her with catching buses, and navigates Ocean safely around busy malls. Lester has stopped Ocean walking into lampposts, scooters and other obstacles, including overhanging trees. And with Lester’s help, Ocean can walk her eldest daughter Breeze to school every day.
“It makes me feel confident, independent and proud to be a mum; to be able to take my child to school,” says Ocean.
Ocean gained so much confidence and independence with the help of a guide dog. But Blind Low Vision NZ and people who are blind, deafblind and low vision completely rely on donations from generous people like you, and each guide dog puppy can cost around $50,000 to train.
