Ken's Story
About 30 years ago, Ken was working as a deckhand on the NSW north coast when he noticed blurriness in his right eye. Within just seven days, Ken had lost almost all central vision in both eyes due to a condition called Leber's optic atrophy.
Ken, then aged 30, started using a cane and relied heavily on his mum for help. When she passed away seven years ago, Ken decided to apply for a Guide Dog. We matched him with a Golden Retriever called Sam, and provided on-site training to teach them how to work together.
Now they're inseparable, with Sam guiding Ken safely around their coastal village, as well as on shopping trips to a larger centre an hour away.
"When I first got a Guide Dog, the biggest challenge for me was learning to trust his judgement; now I trust Sam completely."
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