A frail  widower, Eric Gamsby, who is 78 years old needs a new dog to help him get around since his current dog, Alice, is set to retire. Alice who is nine and  past her retirement age will have her harness removed, by the Guide Dogs for the Blind Association,  so that she can no longer be used as a guide dog.

When an official from the Guide Dogs for the Blind Association went to his home to assess him for a replacement Mr Gamsby was told he did not walk fast enough to be given a new dog.

He will now have to use a white stick instead to get around in his neighbourhood in Daubhill, near Bolton, Greater Manchester, pending further tests on his walking pace.

Mr Gamsby lives alone, has no children,  and depends greatly on Alice who is his only companion. He suffers from a medical condition, sciatica,  which causes him to have difficulty moving his leg making him walk slowly.

Mr Gamsby said: “I can’t believe I have been told I cannot a have a new guide dog because I can’t walk quickly enough. I’m not Linford Christie. I am an old man of 78 in not the greatest of health.

“A trip to the shops two streets away usually takes me ten minutes with a dog. Without one it will take me twice as long.

A spokesman for the Guide Dogs For The Blind stated “that when a guide dog approaches retirement age owners have to apply for a replacement and their suitability to have a dog is reassessed.”

The spokesman said: “Factors such as walking pace, balance and ability to care for the dog are all taken into account to ensure a guide dog is still a suitable, and safe, means of mobility aid for a client.

“In the case of Eric Gamsby the charity was unable to accept Eric for a replacement guide dog straight away due to concerns regarding his capability, and potential safety, to be a guide dog owner.” The association is trying to do everything they can to find a guide dog with a pace similar to Mr Gamsby’s. They are even looking at older dogs to see if they can match Mr. Gambsby’s slower pace.

So far they have not found a match. Wouldn’t it be nice if they could train an older rescue dog that needs a home. It can be very hard to place senior dogs, it seems that could be the perfect solution, a win-win situation.

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Autistic children live in a very isolated world.  This heartwarming story, once again, goes to show what a powerful influence a dog can be in your life.  Karen Shriek, founder of 4 Paws for Ability, says “Dogs work ‘magic’ on kids with autism”.

Since 1998, through her nonprofit 4 Paws for Ability, Shirk has helped partner service dogs with people with a wide range of disabilities.

Although the organization was originally started to help people with all disabilities she wanted to focus on  children, especially those with autism.

Since many agencies have age restrictions, she now specializes in providing dogs to children. The dogs help kids with a variety of issues, from mobility problems to seizures, but from the start Shirk wanted to find ways to assist children with autism.

“I knew [autistic children] connected to animals,” she remembers. “I knew that service dogs would be able to help.”

The dogs help provide the children with emotional support as well as assistance in keeping them safe.

Shirk’s 4 Paws for Ability requires that families raise $12,000, on average, to pay for their service dog. Each dog is trained for the child’s specific needs, and the entire process takes between nine and 18 months.
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In the end, families come to Ohio to meet their dogs and receive training. For Shirk, seeing the kids bond with their dogs makes her efforts worthwhile.

4 Paws for Ability is always in need of donations, sponsors, and volunteers.  I give this organization two big paws up for their dedication and hard work to help make a child’s life a little easier.

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The New York Times wrote a very touching story about how dogs are saving both hardened inmates and brave soldiers handicapped from their service in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Each year almost a hundred dogs, all Labrador Retrievers and Golden Retrievers, are trained by dozens of inmates, mostly all women, as highly able service dogs to be given away free to vets in need.

And it’s all done and organized by the amazing organization Puppies Behind Bars, founded in 1997. Please take the time to click through and learn more about you can help this great group.

This quote from an incarcerated member of the program sums it all up.

“What I’ve done is put a year of love into this puppy who in turn will give a lifetime of love to Bill and his wife,” she said.

How is it not shocking at all that in a world gone mad, dogs are still saving all of us?

The photo above is from the NY Times website. Click it to see a great slide show of inmates training dogs.

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