After her husband died suddenly and her children left home, teacher Helen Smith began to question everything in her life. Then a radio programme about a shortage of guide dogs gave her an idea.
Smith was cleaning her bathroom and listening to the radio when she heard about the shortage of guide dogs caused by the pandemic. One vision-impaired owner faced a two-year wait for a new dog. Knowing the importance of her own relationship with dogs, Smith was overcome with sadness. She thought, 'Well, what am I going to do with the rest of my life?'
Smith had moved from Shropshire to Germany in 1998 for her husband's work. After his sudden death in 2011 from a virus affecting his heart, she decided to stay in Germany to support her daughters' education. But by June 2022, feeling increasingly isolated and devastated by Brexit, she knew she wanted to return to the UK.
She had the idea of looking after a 'guide dog mum' – a dog that provides puppies for training. Despite low confidence and thinking she was too old, she applied to Guide Dogs. Within a month of moving back to Warwickshire, Blossom, a Labrador, was brought to meet her.
Guide Dogs pays for Blossom's vet bills, insurance and food. When the time comes, the puppies will be born at Smith's home, and she will look after them for seven weeks before they start training. Blossom has brought Smith new friends and a community. Fellow villagers drop off newspapers for when the puppies come, and Smith has joined Guide Dogs fundraising groups.
Blossom's lanyard, which says 'Guide Dog Mum', starts conversations. 'I go out and have dinner at the cafe, and she's lying at my feet. If I hadn't got her, I would never go to a cafe by myself. Blossom has given me confidence to do all sorts of things,' Smith says.
