It’s no secret that fire station staff have an incredible impact on people’s lives every day – but, recently, many teams within the fire and rescue service have been focused on helping people with sight loss. Some stations have even had a visit from a guide dog puppy as a thank you!
Roselle visits Knock Fire Station
Roselle was named by Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service Blue Watch on the 20th anniversary of 9/11 after one of the guide dogs who led their owner to safety during the attack on the World Trade Centre.
Although the original Roselle passed away aged 14, her legacy lives on through her namesake: a guide dog puppy raised in Ballynahinch. Puppy raising is the first stage in a guide dog’s journey. A volunteer home provides each puppy with the vital foundations for its future role, guiding the puppy from 8 weeks until approximately 16 months old, training, socialising and introducing new environments and experiences along the way.
Puppy Raiser Julie brought Roselle along to meet some of the team of Knock Fire Station who raised enough funds to select a name for her.
Fundraising Relationship Manager Gary Wilson said “It takes £54,800 to support a guide dog from birth to retirement so the money raised by Knock Fire Station is extremely valuable to people living with vision impairment right across Northern Ireland, who we help every day.”
Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress and Guide Dogs thank South Wales Fire Service
A charity car wash at the Adam Street fire station – organised by the Lord Mayor & Lady Mayoress of Cardiff, Graham and Anne Hinchey, and run by crew members at the South Wales Fire Service in Cardiff – raised £1,804, with £1,200 pledged to Guide Dogs Cymru as the Lord Mayor’s chosen charity.
The event was supported by guide dogs Uri and Jason, with their owners Sian and Carole and one of the firefighters even got in the spirit of the fundraiser by donning a dog suit. It got so busy that the crew from Ely was called in to support.
Dennis the labrador meets Dennis the fire engine
In Malvern, a guide dog called Dennis visited the fire crew to mee the Dennis Fire Engine he was named after and thank the team for their support.
By fundraising or donating to Name a Puppy, fire stations around the country can become part of a puppy’s life-changing journey.
Sal Chapman, Guide Dogs’ National Name a Puppy Manager said: “A name is one of the most special gifts you can give to our life-changing pups. It gives them an identity and will be the single most important word they’ll learn as it’s a signal that tells them ‘the next message is for you’. We’re so grateful to every fire station crew who raises vital funds through Name A Puppy. Your generous support helps provide independence and freedom for people living with sight loss for many years.”
If you’re interested in creating a life-changing legacy by naming a puppy, visit www.guidedogs.org.uk/nameapuppy
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