“My dream is to get a guide dog when I’m older, but I know that I am too young now. I have always liked dogs and really wanted one. So, when I heard about CNIB Buddy Dogs, it was the perfect thing for me! In March 2021, I met my new buddy dog Potter, a yellow Labrador-golden retriever cross. I was very excited and a little bit nervous too. I’m so happy with Potter around! He has brought so much laughter and joy into my life. Potter is my best friend! I like brushing him because it relaxes him and me. I also love cuddling Potter because he is so soft! When we want to play, we love playing tug of war together. One of my favourite times of the day is when we go to the dog park so Potter can play. He always gets so excited when he sees the park. It’s his favourite time of day too. He always looks for us to see where we are in the park. If we get too far from him, he will run to us! My family all love him just as much as I do. Some people were scared of him at first, but when they got to know him, no one was scared of him anymore. Potter is very gentle, friendly, and a good listener! If I could tell Potter one thing, it would be that he is the best dog in the world!” – Julie, age 14
A buddy dog is partnered with a child/youth between the ages of 7 and 16 who is living with sight loss. Whether it’s feeding, grooming or walking this well-trained family pet, this will give the child an opportunity to care for a dog, and make it easier to transition into a guide dog partnership in some cases. If you think your child could benefit from being partnered with a CNIB Buddy Dog, please contact Miriam Mas, Program Lead, Buddy Dogs & Ambassador Dogs.