Guide Dogs Cymru

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Guide Dogs Cymru We will not rest until blind and partially-sighted people can enjoy the same freedom of movement as everyone else

Optometrists who studied together in Cardiff 34 years ago have reunited in the city to raise money for Guide Dogs.The gr...
10/10/2026

Optometrists who studied together in Cardiff 34 years ago have reunited in the city to raise money for Guide Dogs.

The group, who graduated in 1992, set out to walk, run, swim, cycle and row 1,992 miles, ending with a lap of Cardiff Castle. They invited members of the local Guide Dogs group to join them in Bute Park, where they handed over a cheque for £2,854.

Philippa Jones, who co-ordinated the get-together, said: “We completed our degrees in Cardiff in 1992, then moved away to work all over the UK and as far afield as Australia, New Zealand and Canada. About 30 of us stay in touch and enjoy plenty of reunions. This year, we decided to set ourselves a challenge - to complete a collective 1,992 miles for Guide Dogs, a fantastic charity.”

The group originally hoped to raise £1,992 for Guide Dogs but were encouraged to aim even higher so that they could name a guide dog puppy. “We think we might choose Woody after the Woodville pub, which was a favourite haunt when we were students here,” Philippa said.

If you’d like to contribute to the optometrists’ fundraising efforts for Guide Dogs, please visit this link: https://www.justgiving.com/page/classof92optometrists

pic 1: the optometrists with guide dogs Dane, Jason, Lennie and Rupert and their owners Jackie, Carole, Sian and Jane

pic 2: the optometrists reunited at Cardiff Castle

Happy birthday to training dog Nell, who is two today! Our main picture shows the golden retriever lying on grass with ...
10/10/2026

Happy birthday to training dog Nell, who is two today! Our main picture shows the golden retriever lying on grass with a tiger toy. The two smaller pictures were taken when she visited staff at Cardiff Bus depot to thank them for making Guide Dogs Cymru their charity of the year.

Autumn has definitely arrived in South Wales! Training dog Valiant, a golden retriever cross labrador, entered into the ...
10/10/2026

Autumn has definitely arrived in South Wales! Training dog Valiant, a golden retriever cross labrador, entered into the Halloween spirit by posing with the pumpkins at the local garden centre. Thank you to his trainer Lucy for the photo.

Part of the shopping experience is learning to wait in the checkout queue! Labrador cross retrievers Cairn (black) and E...
09/10/2026

Part of the shopping experience is learning to wait in the checkout queue! Labrador cross retrievers Cairn (black) and Em Jay (yellow) showed plenty of patience when they visited Jollyes, a pet shop on Newport Road, with trainer Rachael and dog wellbeing technician Katie. Perhaps they were wondering which treats they'd be getting for being such good dogs?

pic shows Cairn (black) and Em Jay (yellow) sitting in store near basket of goods

Cardiff has acquired a new team member – one with claws and a beak! Staff have befriended a cheeky bird that they've nic...
09/10/2026

Cardiff has acquired a new team member – one with claws and a beak! Staff have befriended a cheeky bird that they've nicknamed Edgar Allan Crow. He follows them around the site and has even started tapping on the window to get their attention!

Stacey, a trainee GDMS with our Academy, said: “I first noticed him when I was in the dog pen area. I’m a big crow fan and tried befriending one in my garden at home. They love peanuts, so I brought some in for him. I threw a little, he took it and flew away – but then he came back for more. Before long, he was coming every day for breakfast at 9am.

“He’s become a useful part of our dog distraction work and sits there while the dogs are in the spending pen. He isn’t fazed by them at all. He recognises staff in their uniforms, shouts at them and follows them around the site. He’s such a cool part of the team!”

A second crow has joined Edgar on his visits to the site. “I think it’s his girlfriend, so I’ve named her Virginia Eliza Crow after Edgar Allan Poe’s wife,” Stacey said.

pic 1: Training dog Whispa, a black labrador cross retriever, looking up at the crow, which is perched on the wire fencing

pic 2: The bird perched on the spending pen behind Stacey’s shoulder

pic 3: Close-up of the bird, nicknamed Edgar Allan Crow

pic 4: Training dog Zeus, a yellow labrador cross retriever, is watched by the crow as he sits on the steps with dog wellbeing technician Leah

08/10/2026

Diffy's puppy raisers, Graham and Sandra, visited her from Bristol today. They followed at a distance to observe the black labrador working before an excited reunion in the park. Thank you to trainer Lucy for the video, which shows Diffy bounding up to greet her puppy raisers then running excitedly between them

Happy birthday to life-changer Shandy, who's three today! The black labrador qualified as a guide dog in April and is lo...
08/10/2026

Happy birthday to life-changer Shandy, who's three today! The black labrador qualified as a guide dog in April and is loving life in the Cardiff area. She's pictured sitting on a country path with her tongue out and green grassland in the background.

Say hello to Marlin! The yellow labrador cross retriever was raised in the Southampton area and completes a trio of new ...
08/10/2026

Say hello to Marlin! The yellow labrador cross retriever was raised in the Southampton area and completes a trio of new dogs for trainer Sian. She'll be taking him through our STEP programme, teaching him the behaviours he will need as a qualified guide dog. We wish Marlin all the very best as he continues his guide dog journey in Cardiff.

pic: Yellow labrador cross retriever Marlin sitting outside our Cardiff centre with trainer Sian

Some of our guide dog puppies visited the Senedd this week during an outing to Cardiff Bay. C***r, Brenda, Selwyn and Ta...
07/10/2026

Some of our guide dog puppies visited the Senedd this week during an outing to Cardiff Bay. C***r, Brenda, Selwyn and Tansie all walked beautifully around the bay with their puppy raisers. Thank you to puppy development adviser Gabby for the photos.

pic 1: four yellow puppies practise lead walking with their puppy raisers
pic 2: The puppies in the reception of the Senedd

Snap! Lookalike littermates Weaver and Shelagh have been reunited in Cardiff, where they can get to know each other all ...
07/10/2026

Snap! Lookalike littermates Weaver and Shelagh have been reunited in Cardiff, where they can get to know each other all over again. Weaver was raised in the Southampton area and Shelagh grew up in Devon. Trainer Sian will be taking the two black labradors through our STEP training, teaching them the behaviours they will need as qualified guide dogs. No sibling rivalry allowed!

Young dogs like Weaver and Shelagh live with foster families for the duration of their training - usually four to five months. If you'd love the company of a well-mannered dog who goes to work when you do, with all vet, food and equipment costs covered, why not find out more by visiting this link: www.guidedogs.org.uk/fosterer

You can also find out more by registering for our special webinar, which takes place from 7pm-8pm on Wednesday October 21. Sign up using this link: https://www.facebook.com/events/824516310724522/?acontext=%7B%22event_action_history%22%3A[%7B%22mechanism%22%3A%22your_upcoming_events_unit%22%2C%22surface%22%3A%22bookmark%22%7D]%2C%22ref_notif_type%22%3Anull%7D

pic 1: Black labrador Weaver with trainer Sian
pic 2: Black labrador Shelagh with trainer Sian

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Eastern Business Park, Street Mellons
Cardiff
CF35EA

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