As Gabriel entered his teen years and suddenly needed a white cane to help him navigate the world, he started to worry about what his future might hold. His self-esteem and confidence took a hit and, along with regular debilitating migraines, he struggled to imagine a path to achieving his dreams.
That all changed the day Maggie, Gabriel’s CNIB buddy dog, entered his life.
“Working with a buddy dog has been the greatest confidence boost I’ve had to date,” says Gabriel, who is now 18. “It’s an experience that’s truly unrivaled.”
CNIB buddy dogs are well-trained dogs that are matched with children or teens who are blind or have low vision, right across Canada. They can be life-changing partners for young people like Gabriel who are learning how they fit into a visual world.
Whether it’s feeding, grooming, or walking these family pets, buddy dogs give children and teens an opportunity to care for a dog, build responsibility, and in some cases, help make it easier to transition into a guide dog partnership in the future.
For Gabriel, who was born with low vision, having a buddy dog has been transformational.
“Maggie has provided me with so much more confidence while out walking, [as well as] amazing, long-lasting companionship,” he says. “She even notices when I have a migraine and comes and sits with me to try to help me through it. Buddy dogs are truly amazing.”
Gabriel now imagines a much brighter future for himself – one where he can meet his goals in life. He wants to open a café some day, and he believes having a CNIB guide dog as an adult will help him make that goal a reality.
He’s currently on the waiting list for a CNIB guide dog now that he’s over 16, the minimum age a match can be made. In the meantime, taking care of Maggie is helping him learn how to put his trust in an animal, as well as to be responsible for an animal’s care.
“Maggie has taught me how to have a consistent schedule with training and brushing her teeth. But she has also taught me to trust a dog, which is something that did not come easily to me,” he says.
With Maggie by his side, Gabriel is now more excited for his future than ever.
“I do not want my dreams to be just dreams, limited by my sight,” he says. “Although I may not be able to see all that well, I can still see a bright future ahead with my dog.”