Overweight guide dog to be taken ffrom owner

Disabled pensioner, 82, fears he will become a prisoner in his own home

An 82-year-old deaf-blind man says he is to have his guide dog removed because it’s overweight.

The Guide Dogs for the Blind Association is expected to take the drastic action after concerns that Derek Beal’s canine pal Paddy is being overfed.

Mr Beal, who has a rare genetic disorder which has left him totally blind and hard of hearing, says he will become a ‘prisoner in his own house’ if he loses his guide dog.

The former catering manager, who lives in Allington, claims he was recently informed of the decision to remove the golden retriever who has helped him navigate through life for the past six years.

Guide Dogs for the Blind said it could not comment on the individual circumstances of any case, but confirmed it made the ‘very difficult decision to temporarily remove a guide dog from its owner in Maidstone’.

The charity would neither confirm nor deny if the action was in relation to concerns for the dog’s weight.

Mr Beal said: “I’m an 82-year-old man on my own, I have no means of getting about without Paddy.”

The grandfather, who has Usher Syndrome, insists Paddy is a fit and well guide dog, despite acknowledging the canine is overweight. He also claims there has been no attempt to provide him with a replacement dog.

Guide Dogs for the Blind added: “Sometimes, for various reasons, Guide Dogs is forced to remove a guide dog from its owner’s care. It is not uncommon for the guide dog owner to approach the media if they feel the decision is unfair.

“We understand that having a guide dog removed is very difficult for an owner and we go through a long process before we take this decision.

“We cannot comment any further for reasons of client confidentiality.”