“When I first met Bert, I felt like I was light years out of my comfort zone. I had never owned a dog before and wasn’t sure if I would be able to pull this off. But my vision was declining rapidly, and I saw how guide dogs had helped some of my friends. Even with that knowledge, I don’t think I understood just how much a guide dog would enhance my life until I had been working with Bert for a couple of months. I always thought I was getting around well with my cane but having Bert by my side has made things so much easier. He’s helped me regain my confidence to go outside when it’s dark. Bert and I have only been denied access on two occasions: once for a taxi ride and once at a restaurant. That being said, it makes me so upset and angry when I hear firsthand accounts from other guide dog handlers about being refused service. I can’t understand why so many people are still ignorant of the rights of guide dog handlers. It's 2021. I also want people to know there is nothing that makes working with Bert more difficult than people interfering with his job. So many people think nothing of saying, ‘Good boy, good boy,’ while he’s working. When I ask them to leave him alone, I often get a response like, 'I wasn’t going to hurt him,' as if any interference with a guide dog is okay. The most annoying thing, and it’s only happened once, was when someone told me, ‘Oh, you're so lucky you get to bring your dog wherever you go.’ Lucky is not how I would describe losing more than 90 per cent of my vision in less than 10 years. One thing I will say is that I’m noticing more and more instances of children reminding their parents not to interfere with a working service animal. I don’t know if they’re taught this in school, or through life experience. Whatever the reason, that makes me really happy.” – Terry