Atherton’s Guide Dog Training School Annual Fun Day Big Success

The recently held fun day for Atherton’s Guide Dog Training School attracted an estimated 3000 people say the event organizers.

The event is organized by the Guide Dogs for the Blind charity and last year the fund day raised over £9,000. This year it is hoped a similar amount is raised for the school in Gibfield Park.

The annual fun day is a way people can come and observe the kind of work being done at the centre. There is also a great pet show which gives awards to categories such as ‘waggiest tail’ and “happiest dog”

This is the fourth year the centre has held and open day and according to Sue Richardson the school manager, it is an excellent way to raise awareness of what they are actually doing.

“It was another great event that showed people the range of things that Guide Dogs for the Blind do to help people with sight loss. The idea is to raise money but also to get people into the centre who might not know what we do. People were extremely generous in donating to the charity and we are already looking forward to next year’s event.” Ms. Richardson said

Currently the school has 327 puppies undergoing training in what the school calls “puppy walking” This is where the puppies are sent to homes of volunteers when they are aged between six to thirteen weeks. Following that period, the pups return to the centre to complete training as Guide Dogs. Currently the school has 92 animals that are training to be Guide Dogs and every month 23 Guide Dogs are given to visually impaired people who are in need.

As well as the annual fun day people can also have the opportunity to understand what the centre does through regular tours which are conducted on the first Saturday of every month.