- By Áine McGlinchey
- BBC News NI
Image supply, Martha McClelland/Guide Dogs NI
Martha McClelland, who’s initially from California within the US however now lives in Londonderry, misplaced her sight fully two years in the past
A visually impaired lady residing in Londonderry has mentioned she looks like a prisoner in her personal home, ready greater than two years to get a brand new information canine.
Martha McClelland, who’s initially from California within the United States, misplaced her sight fully from glaucoma and muscular degeneration.
After her information canine, Jasmine, retired two years in the past, she started having falls.
She mentioned she now discovered it harder to get out and about and has misplaced her independence.
“The first fall was 4 weeks after she was retired,” Mrs McClelland mentioned.
“I broke each elbows, one very badly and it did not heal correctly. I additionally broke my leg and tore a cruciate ligament”.
Mrs McClelland mentioned the accidents had a long-lasting influence on her confidence.
“I’m now afraid going out and walking with the white cane,” she mentioned.
“It has actually curtailed me. Sometimes I even really feel like a prisoner in my very own flat.”
Jasmine retired from working life two years in the past, however nonetheless lives with Martha as a household pet
Mrs McClelland, who’s initially from California and moved to Derry 50 years in the past, has utilized for a brand new information canine however has nonetheless not received one.
The Covid-19 pandemic led to delays within the availability and coaching of dogs, charity Guide Dogs Northern Ireland has mentioned.
A information canine’s common working life is six to seven years and they’re usually retired at about 10 or 11 years previous, relying on their well being and the quantity of labor they should do.
Speaking to BBC’s The North West Today programme, the charity’s head of information canine service operations Maria Rogan mentioned the pandemic halted each the breeding and coaching of recent information dogs proper throughout the UK.
She acknowledged many individuals had been affected.
“It’s one we’re working tirelessly to beat, and meet the wants of everybody on our ready listing”.
She mentioned the method of rearing and coaching a information canine was time consuming and will take about two years.
Image supply, Guide Dogs for the Blind
There are greater than 1,400 information dogs skilled within the UK annually
Both Ms Rogan and Mrs McClelland are hopeful a brand new initiative being run by Guide Dogs Northern Ireland will assist folks ready on a information canine.
They are asking folks to think about changing into a My Sighted Guide volunteer.
These are individuals who assist visually impaired folks, like Mrs McClelland, reconnect with the neighborhood by happening walks and out procuring with them.
‘Good craic’
“If I may get a information whereas I’m ready to get a brand new canine that may be fantastic,” Mrs McClelland mentioned.
“Become a My Guide volunteer and simply have a little bit of enjoyable with a blind individual, you would be stunned what good craic we’re and it might be a terrific assist to us”.
The volunteer programme, Ms Rogan mentioned, is a vital a part of the information canine charity’s service, serving to to “build confidence and unbiased residing”.
