Two peas in a pod

Peter Roberts says having his guide dog Tess has been life-changing, giving him independence, and a will to overcome life’s challenges. Picture by Rebecca Grunwell

The annual Red Puppy Appeal raises funds for the breeding and training of guide dogs for the blind. The nationwide street collection is this Friday and Saturday. Gisborne dog handler Peter Roberts knows how life-changing a guide dog can be. With his guide dog Tess and a resilient attitude, he shares his story of freedom, independence and rising above life’s challenges, with reporter Shaan Te Kani.

Peter Roberts and his guide dog Tess are best mates — or as Peter likes to put it, “two peas in a pod”.

They’re a team who work well together and have each other’s backs.

Peter is half-blind and has epilepsy. Having Tess by his side is a necessity of life. He needs Tess to help him complete daily tasks like crossing the road safely, or going into shops.

But Tess also needs Peter just as much as he needs her.

Even on a rainy day the pair will be out walking, because Peter has activities and appointments that he has to attend.

When arriving at the Gisborne Blind Foundation centre on a wet day, Peter will go straight into the kitchen to fill up Tess’ water bowl, and dry her down with a towel while she has a drink.

He does all of this before greeting and acknowledging anyone he has just walked past in the office.

“That’s my job. I’ve got to be a good daddy, a good dog owner and make sure Tess gets what she needs,” says Peter.

“I guess she’s kind of like my long-term partner. Sometime’s I think, ‘is it weird of me to tell everybody that I’ve committed my life to her?’ But she’s committed her life to me. I can tell, because everyday she helps me and wants to be by my side.

“Me and Tess just have a special way. She understands me when I need her help just like I understand when she needs my help.”

'More outgoing, more independent'Since Tess came into Peter’s life five years ago, he has become more outgoing and independent. “I was a very lonely guy. I didn’t want to socialise with people. Now I can interact more with others because of Tess.”

Peter is a resident artist and mentor at the Tairawhiti Arts Centre, and plays indoor bowls every week at the local Blind Foundation centre.

It is a huge achievement for Peter, who has faced many challenges throughout his life.

Since he was a child, Peter has lived with being half-blind as well as having epileptic seizures. An operation to remove a brain tumor ended up causing further damage to his vision, making him cross-eyed.

He carries with him a hand-drawn picture of himself, illustrating the disabilities that affect his eyes and brain.

“This diagram is an easy way of explaining to others what has happened to me. When I show people, they’ll say, ‘boy, you’ve been through a hell of a lot haven’t you. To be here today, doing what you do is a miracle’.”

A walking miracle is a fitting description for Peter, who prior to having Tess in his life, was hit by a vehicle while he was walking the street — not once, but three times.

Each time, Peter says the drivers were unapologetic, and said he shouldn’t have been standing there. Or, they said nothing at all and drove off.

“I never made a fuss about it. But that was when my art teacher said; ‘I’m going to get you a guide dog Peter even if I have to fight for it. After what I’ve seen you go through, you need one.’

“Then we started the process to get me a guide dog. I was told that it would be a long process, but I was willing to go through with it.”

Peter leads a more fulfilling life nowPeter has become stronger despite the challenges that have come his way. He credits Tess as being his saviour.

“Now I’m happy. I want to do more things, even if they scare me. I don’t care, I just want to have a go. That’s what I like about my life. I’m willing to try something even if it scares me.

“It’s all because of Tess. She’s helped me through those hard times. Even with my nan passing away and not having my mum live with me, it was hard.”

As a mentor at the Tairawhiti Arts Centre, Peter is helping others, who have disabilities and mental health issues, through their own challenges.

He provides support and guidance to students who need a lift in their confidence, as he once needed.

“They come to us at the centre and we show them awhi (support). The students will ask, ‘Peter how did you do it?’ And I say, ‘you can be that type of person too, if you want.’

“Back when I was at school I noticed that people would push aside those who had disabilities. They didn’t want to know them because of the way they were. They would say, ‘why would we want to know those guys? They’re weird.’

“But even if they are weird, they’re still people. You’ve just got to take the time to understand them. And I know this because I’ve been there already, that’s what I tell them.

“I say, ‘I’ve been there bro, so I don’t care if you’re blind or if you make loud noises. I don’t care, you’re still my friend.’

“Then they’ll say, ‘no one has ever said that to me before’.”

From his own life experiences, Peter imparts inspiring words of encouragement to others. “Never let your disability stop you. Just kept on going. People don’t have to stay in the dark. Don’t let your disability rule your life and make you think you should lock yourself away from the world. If you do that, you won’t know what you’re missing out on.

“When I was little my mum used to say, ‘the world looks scary for my little boy’. But now my mum says that I’ve made my life work around my disability, instead of fighting it. I’ve learned to adapt. I know my disability is there and I have coped with it, and I just carry on.”

Tess has been a huge part of Peter’s realisation that he can live a fulfilling life no matter what.

“She has totally changed my life and I wouldn’t be here without her.”