Before she was matched with her CNIB guide dog, Tara, Denise Springett’s world felt small and isolating.

Living with blindness since childhood, she found the world outside her front door overwhelming. Crossing a busy intersection meant walking into traffic and hoping drivers saw her. Every step felt like a gamble.

“It would take hours of mental prep, stress, and anxiety just to work up the courage to run a simple errand,” she recalls.

But the hardest part wasn’t just leaving the house – it was how people treated her once she did. Denise, who often relied on her parents to drive her places, was disheartened by the way people treated her in public.

“I didn’t feel like I was treated like a person,” she says. “With my cane, people would avoid me, pull their kids out of my path, or talk to my parents instead of me. I felt invisible, like I didn’t deserve to be anywhere without justifying my existence.”

A life-changing match

Everything changed when Denise was matched with her CNIB guide dog, Tara.

“I definitely knew she was the one. Tara came right up to me and gave me a big kiss. From that moment, I knew our partnership would be life-changing,” she says.

With Tara by her side, Denise no longer faces the world alone. Tara keeps her safe, builds her confidence, and transforms her everyday experiences.

“People usually experience this kind of autonomy in their teens when they get their driver’s license,” Denise says. “But now, I can finally go anywhere! I can spontaneously decide to go for a walk or run errands, and I don’t have to memorize every route or feel trapped wherever I am.”

Rediscovering joy – and what’s possible

Thanks to Tara, Denise’s confidence has grown in ways she never imagined. Now, she can explore her city, take last-minute trips, and attend events without fear. She even embraces spur-of-the-moment social interactions she once avoided.

“I would have never thought I would be the kind of person who goes out to pub trivia every Tuesday night, but we do that!” Denise says. “Tara’s just brought so much joy and playfulness and spontaneity into my life.”

On a recent trip to New Brunswick with her partner, Denise had an afternoon where she just needed to clear her head. She was able to put Tara in her harness and step outside – just the two of them. Five years ago, she wouldn’t have dared to walk alone in an unfamiliar place.

“But that day, Tara and I figured it out together. We found a walking trail by the river and took a peaceful 90-minute stroll.

“I would have never imagined doing that before – I would have felt exposed and vulnerable. There’s comfort in knowing I’m not alone. I’m with Tara and she’s looking out for me.”

A community that cares

For Denise, CNIB has been a constant source of support – from providing accessible technology to offering career support to matching her with Tara.

“CNIB provides life-changing services and treats me as a person, not a diagnosis,” she says. “Supporting CNIB means supporting people with sight loss as humans who have a right to joy, love, and connection.”

Today, Denise wakes up excited for what comes next. “I just love that I don’t know what’s coming up for me and Tara. Every day, I’m grateful I get to explore the world safely, confidently, and with joy. Tara has changed my life – and CNIB made it possible.”

Through Tara, Denise has reclaimed her independence, confidence, and sense of self – a real-life example of the transformative power of guide dogs.

If you’d like to support more guide dog partnerships like Denise and Tara’s, please consider making a gift to CNIB today. Thank you for delivering the gifts of enhanced freedom, confidence, and safety to Canadians who are blind, Deafblind, or have low vision!