“Before I met Isaiah in June 2020, I was scared of dogs, but I am not anymore! Isaiah is a 2.5-year-old black Labrador, who is very calm, relaxed and cuddly. He loves it when I cuddle with him. Isaiah gets compliments for his calm nature and good manners wherever he goes; he’s even made a friend – Nevada, a German Shepherd – on my street. We get along together and have a lot of fun. Isaiah always meets me at the bus stop when I get off the bus after school. I’ve taught him some tricks and he’s even learned how to shake both of his paws at the same time! The best part of having Isaiah is petting him and having someone with me in my room when I sleep.” -Surya, age 12
A buddy dog is partnered with a child/youth between the ages of 7 and 16 who is living with sight loss. Whether it’s feeding, grooming or walking this well-trained family pet, this will give the child an opportunity to care for a dog, and make it easier to transition into a guide dog partnership in some cases. If you think your child could benefit from being partnered with a CNIB Buddy Dog, please contact Miriam Mas, Program Lead, Buddy Dogs & Ambassador Dogs.