LEGALLY blind Tresco resident Lisa Condy has been given a new leash on life, thanks to a guide dog called Vincent.
The 11-month old black labrador arrived at his new home in Tresco two weeks ago, following months of training with Guide Dogs Victoria to become a qualified guide dog.
“We’ve bonded really well and he’s getting along great with our other dogs (a German Shepard called Skye and a Tibetan Spaniel named Kaya),” she said.
For the vision impaired Ms Condy, the canine companion’s arrival has been a multi-faceted blessing — it has increased her self-esteem and given both her and her husband David a bit more freedom.
“Before Vincent came I had low self-esteem,” she said.
“Now I’m more independent and have so much more confidence. I can cross roads now and not be afraid.”
Ms Condy was born short-sighted but her vision has since deteriorated, partly due to a fall from a migraine that took her peripheral vision and depth perception.
She hasn’t been able to drive for 18 years, and has until now relied on her husband to help her walk around safely in public.
Last time her eyes were assessed, doctors told her she had 6/20 vision.
“We talked about getting a guide dog years ago but I didn’t consider my eyes to be that bad,” she said.
At the Blind Bowls Championship event in Queensland last year — which she won to become Australia’s best blind bowler — Ms Condy met a woman who told her having a guide dog would be the best thing she ever did.
In September last year she was assessed, and later told Guide Dogs Victoria had found her a companion.
For more on this story, see Friday’s edition of The Guardian
(05/04/13).
