Chris Orr says he will have to use a cane while he waits for Quinnell's successor. Quinnell will stay with the family. Photo / Brett Phibbs
Volunteers will be collecting for the Red Puppy Appeal until Sunday. To donate $3 text RED to 469 and to donate $20 call 0900 RED PUPPY (0900 733-787).
Chris Orr admits he can be a hard man to keep up with, and no one knows that better than his 12-year-old guide dog, Quinnell.
Quinnell retires from "active service" today as the Blind Foundation launches its annual Red Puppy Appeal.
The foundation hopes to raise more than
$1 million in its street appeal this weekend to pay for the breeding and training of guide dogs.
Mr Orr, the Blind Foundation's community education officer, lost his sight after he suffered a gunshot wound when he was 21.
Quinnell is his third guide dog and will stay on with Mr Orr's family as a pet. While he waits to be matched with a new dog, Mr Orr will use a cane, which he said would be very different from being led around by a dog.
"Using the cane will be a good opportunity to re-learn all the obstacles that I'm not aware of with a dog, because he avoids them all.
"There's unspoken communication between us and we can feel when the other is uncertain.
"I know from his demeanour if he's a bit unsure about a situation so I'll give him some time to make up his mind and off we go again."
Mr Orr said every person's needs were vastly different, making guide dog matching complex and an "inexact science".
"I walk faster than most people so I need a dog that can walk at a faster speed and can deal with high-pressure situations, like Newmarket and Queen St at 5pm. But then he'll have to be ready to lie down and go to sleep when I'm in a meeting."
He said Quinnell's retirement was "bittersweet".
"I know it's time for him to go but we've been in some wonderful situations and travelled all around New Zealand. Sometimes he's the only one there to talk to so he's pretty good at keeping secrets."
Guide dog instructor Angela Coupar said the foundation breeds labradors and golden retrievers and a cross of the two, as well as german shepherds and poodles.
"It can be really difficult to match a person with a dog but it's one of the most important things we do."
* DOG GUIDE
32 New Zealanders are currently waiting for guide dogs.
110 guide dog puppies will be bred this year.
2 years is the time it can take to train a new guide dog.
$22,500-plus is how much it costs to breed, raise, train and match a guide dog.
252 is the number of guide dog teams in the country.
