Roy Keane and Dara Kennedy from Tralee at the launch of Guide Dog Day which takes place on May 1.
A TRALEE based guide dog owner met Roy Keane recently to mark Guide Dog Day which takes place on May 1 this year.
Dara Kennedy and his Guide Dog Patsy met with Roy Keane at Irish Guide Dogs headquarters.
Dara has had Guide Dog Patsy since July 2011 and said that the difference Irish Guide Dogs has made to his life has been immeasurable.
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“When I lost my sight I feared the unknown. I wondered how I would cope. Life is much better now I have Patsy. I have more confidence to go out as it is an adventure, not an ordeal,” said Dara.
Currently Irish Guide Dogs supports 25 people in County Kerry; 21 use Irish Guide Dogs’ vision impairment services and four have an Assistance Dog from the charity.
Roy Keane met with Dara and other clients from around the country to launch Guide Dog Day, Irish Guide Dogs’ new national campaign which takes place on 1st May supported by Hills Dog Food.
Speaking at the launch Roy said: “Growing up in Cork we always had dogs and then when I went to England with the pressure of matches, I always found spending time with my dogs a great way of relaxing. I have two dogs at the moment, a German Shepherd and a Labrador and they are a massive part of my family. I’d be lost without them they are a massive part of our lives.”
Roy urges the public to support Guide Dog Day and text WOOF to 50300 to donate €4. “I always enjoy talking to the people who have and need the dogs; finding out how much the dog means to them; without the dogs they wouldn’t get out and about. It’s amazing; absolutely amazing.”
Irish Guide Dogs is 80% funded by voluntary income and donations so it relies on the public’s support to fund its services. “It costs €38,000 to train one of our pups to become a working Guide or Assistance Dog and we are reliant on donations to deliver our services so please support Guide Dog Day any way you can,” said Paula McGovern, Communications Manager with the charity.
There are street collections and Tesco collections all around Ireland on May 1st in Tesco Stores at Killarney Park, Tralee Manor and Tralee Express from 10am till late.
There is also street collections in Tralee and Killarney on April 30, Killorglin and Tralee on May 1 and Kenmare on May 2.
