Ian’s new eyes are ‘worth the wait’
Ian Styles does not need sight to know the devotion in the eyes of his new guide dog Ivy.
The 2-year-old black labrador has been just a few days into their pairing and is there for the Whangamata¯ man every step of the day.
Due to Covid-19, it was a long wait with lots of postponements and disruption for Ian to receive his new girl — guide dog number four.
Ian says it was worth the wait. “If I get up, she’s right beside me. “We’re getting used to each other and she’s getting better and better, but she’s come from a big city to a small town. She’s wrecked a few garden gnomes in the backyard.”
Ivy was supposed to have arrived the week that the country went into level 4 lockdown.
It meant Ian got to spend more than two months longer than planned with his 10-year-old previous companion Irish, who left on Friday.
To Ian’s joy, Irish has returned to the puppy trainer who raised him, and Ian has been promised he’ll be given updates on how Irish is doing.
Ian is a phenomenal supporter of the Foundation for the Blind’s guide dog appeal and together with the generous people in his community he has raised at least $5000 for the cause in more than 23 collections.
His next collection will be in October.