Guide Dogs puppies formed a guard of honour as Gloucester Hartpury and Sale Sharks players took to the pitch at Kingsholm Stadium ahead of their Premiership Women's Rugby match. The dogs, all in training to become assistance dogs for visually impaired people, visited the stadium as part of their socialisation training and to celebrate the work of volunteer trainers.
The puppies lined up on the pitch as the players ran out before Gloucester Hartpury’s 40-24 victory. Gloucester Hartpury co-captain Zoe Stratford, who also captains the England Women's Rugby team, later spent time with 18-month-old Labrador Bailey. She said: 'It’s an absolute pleasure to support Guide Dogs at this Saturday’s match. The work they do changes lives, helping people build confidence, independence, and connection through their amazing dogs.'
Accompanied by their volunteer puppy raisers, the dogs experienced the matchday environment to grow accustomed to large crowds and loud noises. Volunteer Sheila Ross, from Bristol, who was with nine-month-old puppy Owain, said: 'Many assume guide dogs are born ready to work, but it takes nearly two years of training from birth. Socialisation is vital because guide dogs need to navigate the real world safely with their future owners.'
The event also aimed to raise awareness of the charity's ongoing need for more volunteers. Ms Ross added: 'Volunteers are the foundation of what Guide Dogs do. Breeding stock holders and puppy raisers are at the very start of the journey. Without us, the rest of the chain wouldn’t happen.'
Genevieve Shore, executive chairwoman of Premiership Women’s Rugby, said: 'It’s fantastic to welcome Guide Dogs to a PWR fixture this weekend. Their work has a life-changing impact on hundreds of thousands of people living with a vision impairment.' It costs around £77,000 to breed, raise and train each guide dog, and Guide Dogs relies almost entirely on public donations and volunteers.
