It was the end of February 2008 when I   decided to fill out a form on the web site to try and be a puppy walker for Guide Dogs. I did not know if I would hear back but I hoped, I had tried some 10 years ago but I had a German Shepherd that did not like strangers so I was not accepted, sadly Millie passed away just before Christmas 2007 at a good old age, so I thought I would try again.

I have two dogs of my own and I have worked with dogs for 30 years so I didn't know how I would get on. But I got a phone call off a member of staff who asked if she could come and see me on the lOth March. How excited was I, would my dogs be good, was my house alright, would I fit, was I the right sort of person they wanted? I could not wait, the day arrived, was I nervous, you bet, dinner time came and I saw a car pull up, with two ladies in, were they coming to me, my     daughter was on school holiday and she kept telling me to calm down [teenagers].

Knock at the door, I froze. When I finally answered I was greeted with 2 smiling faces. Cath Brooks a Puppy Walking Supervisor, and Chris Williams, a Puppy Walker and Brood Bitch Holder. I was put at ease straight away, my dogs behaved very well, Cath looked around and asked a lot of questions and there were forms to fill in, then she said she had a dog in the car and if it was ok we would go for a walk and then bring the dog in to see how my dogs would be with her, and of course it had to be raining.
It was a lovely black Labrador about 9mths old and I had ago at walking her. When we got back home I dried her off and then she met my girls, Mya, my German Shepherd was also 9mths old and Phoebe a little cross    terrier aged 6, they behaved very well, I was very pleased with them, they even let her eat

one of their chews.. Then it was time for them to leave, Cath said I would hear from them soon.

10 days later the postman delivered a letter and I knew it was from Guide Dogs, as it said it on the envelope, how long did it take me to open it? coffee number 2 then I finally did, yes, I had passed. I was a puppy walker for the Guide Dogs. I would hear from them when a puppy was matched to me, it could be soon or a little time. Then Cath phoned, she asked if I would look after a young black  Labrador why his puppy walker went on    holiday for 3 weeks, he was only 4mths old.
I could not wait, Cath brought him and he made friends with my girls, he was great to look after but 3 weeks went very quickly, the day he was going home Cath phoned to say she had a 16 week old German Shepherd bitch that had had some tummy trouble but was fine now and would I like to have her to puppy walk. Silly question!

Thursday, June 12th 2008, two days after the call, Liberty came into my life. She was a darling with the biggest ears ever. It did not take long for her to make herself at home. And she was a pleasure to have; she did