Community Gem: Baking a difference for guide dogs

Madeline Parker with her dog Archer. Photo/ John Borren

Archer the black dog is laying against her owner Madeline Parker's lap.

The 6-month-old black russian terrier has just had a drink of water and the fur around her mouth is still dripping wet.

"You look like you've just gone for a swim," Parker laughs looking down at her.

When Archer turns 1, Parker hopes to train her as a therapy dog to help patients in hospitals.

"That's the plan anyway," Parker says.

"I read an article once about how beneficial therapy dogs are for people in hospitals, where they have something to look forward to.

"I really fell in love with the idea of Archer helping others," she says.

But for now, Parker has signed up to raise money for the Blind Foundation guide dogs bikkie day.

Animals, dogs in particular, are a big part of Parker's life.

She's the owner of Paws and Play, a doggy daycare in Greerton, she has fostered dogs throughout her life and is fur mum to Archer, along with her three human sons aged 4 to 12.

Raising money for guide dogs is a natural fit, Parker says.

"We see every day the benefit regular dogs have on their humans, so we know how important guide dogs are to a lot of people," she says.

Parker and her team at the daycare would soon put on their aprons to bake biscuits to sell and raise money on July 2.

The baked goods would be sold at the daycare in Greerton, which Parker hoped her regular customers would get behind and support.

Blind Foundation operations manager Wendy Mellberg Haecker says the foundation provides specially trained guide dogs free of charge to Kiwis who are blind or have severe sight loss.

"The continued generous support of the New Zealand public enables our puppies to succeed in their vital work."

Blind Foundation guide dog puppies need up to two years of training and support from specialist trainers, and volunteer puppy raisers to teach them the ways of the busy world we live in.

Last year more than 1050 bakers from all over New Zealand raised more than $110,000 for guide dogs.

"The support we had was fantastic and we are hoping to see even more avid Kiwi bakers, of any experience, take part this year," she says.

Registrations are open for Bikkie Day and all proceeds go towards the breeding and training of Blind Foundation guide dogs.

EndsThe Blind Foundation:

•The Blind Foundation works to enable people who are blind or have low vision to be self-reliant and live the life they choose. As New Zealand's main provider of vision rehabilitation services, we help people adjust to and make the most of living beyond vision loss. Every day an average of four people turn to the Blind Foundation for support with blindness or sight loss.
•The Blind Foundation's vital work helping people with sight loss is possible thanks to the generous support of the public.
•More information about the Blind Foundation can be found at blindfoundation.org.nz. or to register for Bikkie Day at bikkieday.org.nz